Plymouth, self-catering holiday cottages, barns, rural retreats and lodges to rent in Devon, England

The city of Plymouth is an ideal location for holidaying in the West Country. It has easy road access to some of Devon and Cornwall’s top spots, is full of interesting places to visit and is alive with shopping and entertainment.  Being a city, self-catering accommodation tends to be in the form of apartments and town houses.  

Much of Plymouth’s heritage has been built on the water, most notably the sailings of Francis Drake and the Pilgrim Fathers and, in more recent times, Sir Francis Chichester. This rich history can make Plymouth a fascinating place for a self-catering break.  The waterfront was an important centre for the Royal Navy and as such was blitzed by bombers during WW2. As a result the city centre had to be rebuilt.

The notorious Eddystone reef and its lighthouse are off Plymouth. Perhaps the most famous of the lighthouses on the site was Smeaton’s tower built in 1790 and removed in the 19th century to Plymouth Hoe where it now stands, lovingly restored. It provides visitors with terrific panoramic views of Plymouth from its light room. Boat trips operate around the historical marine sites and provide a great way of seeing them close up.

The Barbican is Plymouth’s famed specialist shopping and restaurant area. Built on the site of the old port there are narrow cobbled streets to explore as you walk in the footsteps of those historic mariners. Plymouth’s city shopping centre is the largest in the South West outside of Bristol. Independent retailers and high street shops are well represented here as well as markets, so there’s something for every taste.

Plymouth has more than its fair share of fine country houses and historic buildings to visit on a self-catering holiday. On the Hoe is the Royal Citadel, built in the 17th century as a coastal defence and still a military establishment today. Plymouth’s history is preserved in both the Mayflower Museum and the City Museum and Art Gallery where you can learn lots of useful information about the city’s history.  Modern entertainment is also on show at the Vue and Reel cinemas, the Theatre Royal and the 10-pin bowling centre. Children’s attractions are plentiful in Plymouth from toddlers to teens. Get the youngsters active with a trip to Drake’s Den or the Jump or join them on the ice for a bit of showboating at the Pavilions ice rink. The largest aquarium in the UK is the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth and the city also is home to the Dartmoor Zoological Park. Model and steam railways both operate in Plymouth and the Wheel of Plymouth is awesome. Whatever the weather, Plymouth makes the good times better for you, your family and your friends.

Self-catering holiday accommodation in Plymouth is usually in the form of apartments.  It may be possible though to find other options such as rural country cottages or romantic cottages in the nearby countryside.

About Cottage Breaks in Plymouth

Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Plymouth, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Devon.