Local area guide
Living in Plymouth (PL1 to PL9)
Where city meets coast and countryside: living in Plymouth comes with captivating contrast and relaxed waterside charm at its heart.
Your guide to moving to Plymouth
Why Plymouth is a good place to live
Living is Plymouth is all about embracing the city's maritime heritage and chilled-out waterside charm.
This vibrant South West city really has it all when it comes to lifestyle, with beautiful beaches and national parks on the doorstep. There are great shopping options, good universities and a thriving cultural scene centred around the waterfront, where it's impossible to resist freshly-caught seafood or a cold drink with a view.
Plymouth's relaxed atmosphere and relatively affordable house prices make it just what many families are looking for. Its strong sense of community, good safety and top schools for all ages add to the appeal.
What is Plymouth famous for?
Plymouth is famous for its maritime history, and particularly the seafaring achievements of Sir Francis Drake.
Drake was the first person to sail around the world and led victory over the Spanish Armada in the 16th Century. It's local legend that he leisurely finished up his game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe when told about the Armada's approach.
Things to do in Plymouth
Start by exploring the historic Plymouth Hoe to soak up breathtaking views of Plymouth Sound and join other selfie-takers in front of Smeaton's Tower lighthouse.
For a family-friendly adventure, get up close and personal with marine life at the popular National Marine Aquarium or hop aboard the historic Mayflower Steps, which celebrates the Pilgrims' journey to America.
Stroll through the bustling Barbican area to discover independent boutiques, quaint cafes and local tearooms. When the sun starts to go down, head to Royal William Yard to find award-winning restaurants and trendy bars in beautifully restored naval buildings.
Average asking prices in Plymouth today
We update our average asking prices every day using data from millions of properties for sale.
Properties currently for sale in Plymouth
Whether you're looking for a family home or a beautiful apartment, we've got you covered.
£180,000
- Bedrooms3
- Bathrooms1
- Living rooms3
3 bed terraced house for sale
Neswick Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1
£160,000
- Bedrooms2
- Bathrooms2
- Living rooms1
2 bed detached bungalow for sale
North Road West, Plymouth PL1
Guide price
£300,000
- Bedrooms2
- Bathrooms3
- Living rooms3
2 bed terraced house for sale
Ebrington Street, Plymouth, Devon PL4
Plymouth and beyond
Local pubs in Plymouth
In partnership with
Newmarket Tavern
Plymouth, Devon, PL1Traditional city centre pub offering good value food all day, including breakfasts.
Roundabout
Plymouth, Devon, PL4Relaxed hangout featuring craft beer & pub fare, plus sports on TV & pool tables.
Skiving Scholar
Plymouth, Devon, PL4
Bac Bar
Plymouth, Devon, PL4
Noahs Ark
Plymouth, Devon, PL1
Transport in Plymouth
Trains
Plymouth Railway Station offers regular services to major cities, with a trip to London Paddington taking 3 hours and 15 minutes.
Exeter is an hour away by train and the journey to Penzance takes 2 hours. Trains run to several local stations near Plymouth including Looe, Saltash and Ivybridge.
Buses
Plymouth extensive bus network operated by companies including Stagecoach and Plymouth Citybus.
Park and Ride
Plymouth's Park and Ride services are located at George Junction, Coypool and Milehouse. They're especially handy if Plymouth Argyle are playing at home on a Saturday afternoon.
Car
Plymouth has good road connections, primarily via the A38 which connects to the M5. Go northeast on this road to reach Exeter (1 hour) and Bristol (2 hours), or southwest to Liskeard (30 mins) and South Cornwall beyond.
The A386 provides access to nearby towns and Dartmoor National Park, while the A388 heads to North Cornwall.
Key routes into and out of Plymouth can get congested at rush hour, so it's worth planning ahead or taking public transport where you can.
Ferries
Plymouth has a number of local ferry routes. You can take cars on the crossing to and from Torpoint over the River Tamar, while pedestrian ferries run to the Mount Batten peninsula as well as Cawsand beach and Cremyll in Cornwall.
For longer trips, you can catch a ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff in France or Santander in Spain. Brittany Ferries operates these routes, giving a handy alternative to flying or driving.
Airports
Exeter Airport is the nearest major airport serving Plymouth, about an hour away. Bristol Airport is a little further (2 hours) but usually has a broader choice of flights.
Transport connections
- Plymouth
- National Rail
- 0.2 miles / 0.3 km
- Plymouth (Barbican) Landing Stage
- Ferry Port
- 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
- Plymouth Ferry Terminal
- Ferry Port
- 1 miles / 1.6 km
- Plymouth Mount Batten Ferry Landing
- Ferry Port
- 1.1 miles / 1.8 km
- Devonport
- National Rail
- 1.3 miles / 2.1 km
- Dockyard (Devonport)
- National Rail
- 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
Schools in Plymouth
There's a wide variety of schools in Plymouth, catering to different educational needs. The city offers a mix of public and private schools as well as academies and special needs schools.
Plymouth is a hub for higher education in the region. It has several well-regarded sixth-forms and colleges, as well as the renowned University of Plymouth - one of the largest unis in the UK - and Plymouth Marjon University.
Schools in Plymouth
- Fletewood School at Derry Villas
- Ages: 2 - 11 years old
- Ofsted Rating: Good (2019)
- Pilgrim Primary Academy
- Ages: 4 - 11 years old
- Mount Street Primary School
- Ages: 2 - 11 years old
- Ofsted Rating: Good (2023)
- Plymouth High School for Girls
- Ages: 11 - 18 years old
- The Cathedral School of St Mary
- Ages: 4 - 11 years old
- Ofsted Rating: Requires improvement (2022)
- St Peter's CofE Primary School
- Ages: 2 - 11 years old