My husband and I will have 3 days to explore the south of England before meeting a tour in September. We are thinking of going to Plymouth, but their website (http://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/) doesn't scream - "Yes, you can't miss this destination." I want to go as a mayflower descendant, but want to make sure the trip is worth the entire day which will be spent on it. Has anyone been there? Anything you would recommend seeing or doing? Also, what kind of weather should be be prepared for in September? We will be there towards the end of the month and be covering England, Scotland, and Wales. Any recommendations would be welcomed!
Thank you. :)
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33820 posts
You won't see much Mayflower stuff. We went there to see Drake's Drum so didn't see much of the town. We saw a strange roundabout.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
There is the Mayflower exhibition http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/homepage/leisureandtourism/tourismandvisitors/plymouthmayflower.htm Plymouth was badly bombed in WW2 so the city centre is mostly a 1950s rebuild.
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
When we went years ago, a simple arch marked the spot of embarkation. You can also take a walk on the Hoe where legend says Sir Francis Drake played a game of bowls before sailing out to meet the Spanish Armada.
Dartmoor is nearby. You could drive through it and maybe find a nice country pub for lunch. Exeter and its cathedral are only an hour from Plymouth as well.
Posted by
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
Several years ago when we were in the south, I wanted to see Mayflower history. However, from what I read, there wasn't a whole lot there, so we didn't go. But we were in the south in September and had great weather - very sunny and warm. Not sure if you can always count on that.
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
I was not excited about Plymouth. I would suggest Salisbury and Winchester for their cathedrals (and convenience to Stonehenge and Avebury), also possibly just amble through Dorset villages for a change
Posted by
Santa Rosa, CA, USA
1446 posts
We loved Winchester.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello Heather. I do not recommend going to Plymouth. I recommend going to Portsmouth Harbor. (East of Plymouth). It is a one and a half hour train ride from Victoria Station in London to Portsmouth Harbor. Walk to the Old Navy Harbor to walk through the old British Navy sailing ship the Victory. (it was in the battle of Trafalgar in the year 1805). And see the sailing ship the Mary Rose, in a building. That ship was beautifully restored. It was built for the British navy in the 1500s. It is the only ship of its kind in the World, that can be seen by the public. And the large iron clad ship built for the British Navy in the 1860s. It is a floating museum. It is possible to do all that in a day trip from London. Or stay at the Portsmouth area one or two nights, and ride in the ferry boat (15 minutes) to the Isle of Wight. At that island, a railroad train goes from the ferry boat dock on a long pier to the small town Sanddown.
The isle of Wight is a good place for relaxing and breathing in the ocean air which flows across the island. You might like to relax and rest on the isle of Wight before returning to London and beginning your tour. The ferry boat dock at Portsmouth harbor is located close in back of the train station. Or it was when I was there.
Posted by
OP
Houston, TX, USA
5 posts
Everyone - Thanks for all the information! I'm sure we will have a lot more questions as our trip approaches. Heather