Plymouth

About Plymouth

A port city in southwest England, Plymouth is known not only for its maritime heritage but also its historic Barbican district with its cobbled, narrow streets. The National Marine Aquarium (PL4 0LF) is found in Sutton Harbour and is home to a wealth of marine wildlife.

Plymouth is also the base for the Royal Navy and home to the most extensive naval base anywhere in western Europe. With its golden sandy beaches, it is a popular seaside destination for many families, and it has plenty of museums and history to keep people busy on rainier days.

Plymouth is incredibly accessible via a good number of different routes. The nearest airports are Bristol, Newquay and Exeter. They all have good connections with other cities within the UK and also some of Europe. There is a direct bus from Bristol airport to Plymouth with a journey time of around 2hr 30 mins, or National Express coach link from Exeter to Plymouth (2hr 10 mins) from Newquay. However, a short taxi journey is required before onward travel by bus or train.

Due to Plymouth’s coastal location, some train journeys may require a change, but there are services that connect the city with London (3 hrs) and Manchester (5 hrs 15 mins) and then further afield.

Getting to Plymouth by road is a popular option with most driving routes coming via the M5 and then merging with the A38. The journey will take around 4 hours from London, 4hrs 30mins from Manchester and just 2 hrs 30 mins from Cardiff. The M6 and then the M5 connect Plymouth to Edinburgh with a journey time of around 7hrs 30 mins

There are also regular ferries from both France and Spain for international visitors attending project management courses in Plymouth.
 
 

With project management courses in Plymouth often scheduled to take place over several days, it can be a good idea to look for somewhere to stay in the local area to make things easier. Plymouth has a great selection of hotels available.

Leonardo Hotel Plymouth– Formerly Jurys Inn (PL4 0AZ)

A short walk from the railway station, this hotel is located in the heart of the city and not too far from the seafront. The hotel offers all the amenities that you would expect for a 4-star hotel from a reputable chain and there is payable onsite parking, with discounts available. The hotel has a number of meeting rooms which would make a good venue for a project management training course. There are a number of different dining options available within the hotel.

Copthorne Hotel Plymouth (PL1 1AR)

Located a 5 minute walk from the railway station, this is a good sized hotel connected to a shopping centre. It offers modern rooms with fantastic amenities. There is onsite chargeable parking, which is very reasonably priced, particularly when compared to other similarly located hotels. There are 2 onsite dining options with plenty of options, catering to a range of dietary requirements. The rooms all have free Wi-FiI as do most of the public areas.

Crowne Plaza Plymouth an IHG Hotel (PL1 2HJ)

Set in the Barbican district of Plymouth, this is a large hotel in an incredible location. As with most of the big hotels in a big city like Plymouth the onsite parking is payable, and limited.  It is, however, a short walk from the railway station. The hotel has a well equipped fitness centre, a swimming pool and a sauna There is a business centre for guests’ use and a number of meeting rooms which can be hired.

Plymouth is a vibrant and incredibly welcoming city with plenty to offer. When you have some free time from your project management course in Plymouth, the following may be of interest.

Restaurants

Fresh produce, incredible locations and views - when it comes to dining out, Plymouth really does have it all. No matter what type of cuisine you are looking for, from the more traditional fish and chips to Asian dishes and modern gourmet dishes, Plymouth has something for everyone. Acleaf (Boringdon Hill, Colebrook, Plympton, Plymouth, PL7 4DP) is the proud holder of a Michelin Star. The restaurant which is located in the stunning Boringdon Hall Hotel, which dates back to the time of the Doomsday book specialises in dishes that use prime seasonal ingredients. The dishes are modern but understated using flavours that are European. The Michelin Guide particularly recommends their sauces and desserts. Barbican Kitchen (Plymouth Gin Distillery, 60 Southside Street, Plymouth, PL1 2LQ) is one of the Plymouth restaurants that has warranted a mention in the Michelin Guide, although it does not yet hold a star. They offer a more informal, yet no less elegant style of dining, in the Plymouth Gin Distillery. The menu offers simple dishes with a significant nod to classic comfort food, and an emphasis on ensuring that vegetarian dishes are on a par with their meat dishes to ensure a fantastic dining experience for all guests. Whilst there are plenty of restaurants in Plymouth, the city is incredibly popular with tourists and locals alike so booking is advised for almost all eateries where possible.

Entertainment

Whilst there are plenty of pubs and bars in Plymouth there are also a good range of evening options available that do not involve drinking. There are 2 cinemas within Plymouth, Cineworld (PL4 0FE) and Vue (PL4 0LG) showing all of the latest releases. For those who prefer live entertainment there is a fantastic selection of theatres where you will find a very diverse range of plays, musicals and shows available all year round. For something completely different, why not book an hour session at one of the Axe throwing centres that you will find in Plymouth (surprising as it may seem there are in fact 3 companies offering axe throwing in the city). The Celtic Tossers (PL1 1SD) offer sessions up to 9pm and these include expert instruction to help you have the most, yet safest, fun possible. If Axe throwing feels a little too dangerous for you then why not try ten pin bowling at the Barbican Leisure Centre (PL4 0LG)?