The Best Cheap Places to Stay in Plymouth
If you’re looking for cheap places to stay in Plymouth, this blog post is here to help!
This South Western city is renowned for its maritime heritage and Medieval history, with historic and fascinating attractions like Smeaton’s Tower and the Plymouth Gin distillery in striking distance of the centre.
The ocean is centric to everything in Plymouth.
Learn about the 15th century Mayflower voyage which saw a group sail from the UK to what is now the USA, visit the Royal William Yard which used to be a naval base and explore Plymouth Aquarium to learn about British marine life.
But where is the best place to stay in Plymouth on a budget?
Whether you’re visiting Plymouth on holiday or for business, this post has the most comprehensive list of cheap hotels and includes some tips for getting the best deals.
These hotels have been selected for their amazing guest reviews and excellent facilities; for example, some have fibre optic internet and air conditioning.
There are some famous hotels in Plymouth, like Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa and the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, but these can be quite pricey! However, there are also numerous other smaller hotels and guesthouses that you can stay in.
Plymouth isn’t an expensive city, but with my travel tips, you can make your trip here even cheaper!
If you want to look at general locations in Plymouth, you can take a look at this where to stay in Plymouth guide too!
Cheap Places to Stay in Plymouth
Here’s my full list of cheap places to stay in Plymouth. Whether you want to stay in a hostel, a guesthouse or a budget hotel, you can utilize this post to find the perfect place for your stay!
Hostels in Plymouth
This type of accommodation usually consists of people sleeping in dorms or budget private rooms, with shared facilities.
There aren’t that many hostel options available in Plymouth, but here’s what I found!
Plymouth Backpackers
Plymouth Backpackers Hotel is a popular hostel in the city centre. Although it’s a hostel, it doesn’t have any dorm rooms, but you can hire family rooms or a budget twin room, with different prices depending on the number of occupants.
There’s free wifi access throughout Plymouth Backpackers Hotel and it has friendly staff, clean accommodation and cooking facilities. Staying at Plymouth Backpackers Hotel is a great way to save money, as you can cook your own food rather than eat out.
The only negative thing that’s worth mentioning is the hostel is slightly out of the centre, in a slightly unsafe area. If you’re going back to the hostel at night, I’d recommend taking a taxi rather than walking.
Cheap Guesthouses in Plymouth
From hotels in Plymouth Hoe to accommodation options a bit further out (usually with cheaper rates), these cosy guesthouses have excellent facilities.
Some serve English breakfasts, some have private parking and others are in a prime position to enjoy Plymouth City.
The George Guest House
In prime position, just a short walk from Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican, is this wonderful guest house. The rooms are comfortable and cosy, with lots of different size options depending on your group size.
Choose from a single, double, triple or family room and save a lot of money!
All of the rooms feature a flat-screen TV and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Click here to see the average price per night at the George Guest House.
Island Lodge on the Hoe
Island Lodge on the Hoe is one of the best cheap hotels in Plymouth City Centre.
The rooms in this guest house are a little dated, but it’s a great price for such a central location and you’ll have everything you need.
There are even some basic cooking facilities in the reception area.
The hosts are friendly and personable, eager to help with any questions or offer some recommendations of places to eat or attractions.
You can enjoy some of the most spectacular views of Plymouth Sound just steps from this accommodation – take a look at it and see what I mean!
Admiral MacBride
Situated in an ideal location right on the Barbican, Admiral MacBride is a highly-rated hotel with views of the harbour. It has a very friendly landlord and other helpful staff.
It’s a traditional English pub and guest house, offering tasty food in the restaurant downstairs.
Although it’s a budget place to stay, nothing is sacrificed when it comes to room quality; the well-equipped spaces have everything you’ll need!
Plus, some of the bedrooms offer incredible views of the Barbican and waterfront. Click here to see what I mean!
Choco’s
Although Choco’s is a guesthouse, it’s a homestay-style place where you can enjoy modern and well-equipped shared kitchen facilities.
You won’t need to eat out at all in Plymouth’s restaurants when you’ve got this kitchen – click here and take a look at it to see what I mean!
It’s perfect for people working away or those who don’t want to spend too much money.
Each room has a comfortable carpet or stylish wooden floor, crisp white bedlinen and flat-screen TVs. There is a shared bathroom. You can enjoy internet access across the property.
Budget Hotels in Plymouth
These cheap accommodation options have been selected for their budget prices, but also the fact that they’ve got cosy bedrooms and great facilities, giving you a comfy stay in Plymouth City.
They’re mainly 3-star hotels, providing you with comfort at a good rate.
Comfort Rooms
Comfort Rooms is another friendly budget guest house in Plymouth. The rooms here are wonderfully well-furnished with comfy beds, flat screen TVs and even basic kitchen facilities. The bathrooms are shared.
This area is on the banks of the River Tamar, close to Devonport.
This area of Plymouth has historically got a bit fo a reputation, so I’d avoid walking around at night, but in the daytime it’s fine.
The 21 SPARK bus connects Comfort Rooms to Plymouth Centre.
A Home from Home 2
A Home from Home 2 is a friendly hotel in Plymouth.
It’s a great place to stay for budget travellers, because there’s a shared kitchen for guests to make use of. There’s even cereal, beans and eggs so you can make your own breakfast!
The rooms are comfortable and cosy, with features like a mini-fridge, flat-screen TV and a fan, in case you’re visiting in a heatwave!
The beds are comfortable and the WiFi works well. The lovely facilities mean that it basically has everything you need, but at a budget price!
If you’re driving to Plymouth, there’s also free parking on-site.
It’s a 20 minute drive from this accommodation to Plymouth Centre, or you can take the number 1 bus all the way to the town centre.
A home from home 2 is also in a good location to get onto the Devon Expressway and to cross the border into Cornwall or drive eastwards into Devon.
Ibis Plymouth
Situated a short drive or bus ride from the centre, the Ibis Plymouth Hotel is a reliable hotel chain that works well if you’re on a budget.
It has a fair few rooms, all with en-suite facilities.
The hotel is set in a few different buildings, with each room opening to an outside common balcony.
The rooms are fairly large in size and they each have a flat-screen TV, king-size beds and tea and coffee facilities.
There’s also private parking on site. If you need to get into the centre, you can connect with good bus services.
Copthorne Hotel
Copthorne Hotel is one of the best cheap hotels in Plymouth City Centre. Its perfect location means that you can enjoy attractions like Drakes Circus and Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican.
This spacious accommodation has modern facilities, like great WiFi, a flat-screen TV in each room, tea and coffee making facilities and brightly-coloured rooms, each with an en-suite bathroom.
Windows let in a great deal of light and you can choose from a standard, club, deluxe or accessible room.
At Copthorne Hotel Plymouth, there are comfy sofas and chairs to hang out on in reception and the 50 degrees north brassiere and bar.
This modern hotel is a little more expensive than the other cheap hotels in Plymouth on this list, but take a look at its city centre location and you’ll see why it’s a bit more!
The average price of this city-centre hotel ranges but you can get some cheap rates, especially midweek and in the offseason.
OYO Plymouth Central
With decent rates and included breakfast, this Indian-owned hotel chain has branches all over the world.
Although the rates for OYO Plymouth hotel are low, the hotel is of excellent quality, with modern accommodation, large rooms and comfortable beds in a range of different configurations.
There’s a flat-screen TV in every room, as well as plenty of other mod cons to ensure you have a great stay. All of the double bedrooms enjoy a private bathroom.
Plus, its friendly staff will help you with any queries or questions you might have!
It’s also in a wonderful, central location so it’s really easy to enjoy all of the attractions in Plymouth.
Free Things to do in Plymouth
If you’re on a budget trip to Plymouth, here are some of the best free things to do here:
- Walk around the Barbican and admire the boats
- See attractions on Plymouth Hoe like the Beatles Bums, and Smeaton’s Tower. There’s also a statue of Sir Francis Drake, but I’d recommend all tourists to read about his connections to slavery before visiting the statue.
- Walk the South West Coast Path to the River Yealm or another point on the South Devon Coastline, enjoying the amazing views to beautiful sandy beaches.
- Visit The Box museum
- Enjoy a walk around Royal William Yard
- Laze on the beaches around Mount Batten like Jennycliff. This is the other side of the River Plym, and you can take in spectacular views back over to Plymouth city centre too!
- If you have a National Trust membership, there are a few places to visit near to Plymouth, such as Cotehele which is just over the River Tamar.
- Drive a little way and enjoy Dartmoor National Park. Attractions near Plymouth include Burrator Reservoir and Brent Tor church.
You can see the best things to do in Dartmoor National Park here.
Other things to do in Plymouth
Here are few other things to do in Plymouth:
- The National Marine Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the country is located here, which is a popular place to visit if you’re interested in fish and ocean conservation. Tickets to the National Marine Aquarium cost
- You can also go shopping at Drakes Circus, the largest shopping centre in South East England other than Bristol.
- Dinner in Royal William Yard is always fun; there’s a Wetherspoons and Prezzo here, as well as some local businesses.
- Boat Trips along the River Tamar are also very popular, offering gorgeous views into Devon and Cornwall.
- Head to the Plymouth Gin Distillery which is situated in the cobbled streets of the Barbican area of Plymouth.
How to find cheap food in Plymouth
If you’re spending some time in Plymouth and the surrounding area, here are some tips for saving money while you’re there!
- There are lots of pasty shops across Devon and Cornwall. These pasties are very filling and tasty, with lots of vegetarian options.
- Fish and chips is also a popular takeaway option that’s usually a great price!
- You can also purchase meal deals for lunch for around 3-4 from any supermarket.
- Wetherspoons is a great place to eat if you’re on a budget trip. it’s a cheap hotel chain that serves food at great prices.
While these budget hotels in Plymouth may not have luxury bedrooms,
Budget Travel Tips for Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall
Get a National Trust and an English Heritage membership which can help you see all of the properties that they run. Enjoy unlimited access to the historic interiors and the beautiful gardens of the impressive heritage properties with these annual passes!
You can purchase a Devon day ticket for the buses which will take you all over Devon!
Wetherspoons is definitely a must-visit if you’re visiting Plymouth on a budget. There are loads of cheap menu items here, including breakfasts, curries, burgers and more! There are also lots of veggie and vegan options.
Whats the closest airport to Plymouth City?
The nearest airport to Plymouth is Exeter international airport. The city is also quite close to Newquay Cornwall Airport.
However, neither of these airports serves many destinations. You could also fly into Bristol, from which there is an airport shuttle bus to Plymouth.
How to get around Plymouth
Public transport is quite good in Plymouth, with buses connecting its suburbs to the bustling centre.
There’s also a big train station, which serves various Devon stations and London, Bristol, Exeter and other locations. Plymouth City also has one of the largest coach stations in the region.
How to get into a luxury Plymouth hotel for cheap!
If you want to enjoy a bit of luxury on your Plymouth trip, I recommend booking Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa in January.
With timeless elegance, Boringdon Hall Hotel and Spa is a majestic place to stay, located in an English country house in the neighborhood of Plympton.
It has luxury bedrooms and sumptuous cafes and an extraordinary spa.
We stayed here mid-week in January and it only cost us £100 per night.
We enjoyed all of the Gaia spa facilities in this rate!
Whether you’re looking for a friendly hotel with a cosy lounge or somewhere with a dedicated parking space, this list of cheap hotels in Plymouth should have all you need! Make sure that you bookmark it and check it out on your next Plymouth trip.
