Plymouth in Day!

After four attraction-packed days at Devon's Top Attractions Showcase in April, Sales and Marketing Executive, Sarah added on an extra stop and headed to Plymouth to check out their offerings for coach groups. Her first stop was the Crowne Plaza Plymouth to check out a hotel we regularly use for Christmas breaks.

''The Crowne Plaza enjoys a stunning setting looking out to sea over Plymouth Hoe and it’s easy to see why it is a popular base for Christmas tours.'' said Sarah. 

''Sandra at the hotel, took a little time out of her busy day to give me a tour of the rooms and facilities. And it certainly was a hive of activity as they were in the process of moving a temporary restaurant from a ground floor function room back to the Penthouse location after a carpet refit. I guess we can add 'recently refurbished' to that description!''

''The hotel was well presented throughout and the rooms were all of a high standard. I even got to check out the health and safety procedures of the hotel with a fire alarm and evacuation just as we reached the fifth floor! My workout for the day! In normal circumstances, however, there is a lift to all floors and ground floor rooms available on request. The majority of the rooms had shower over bath but there are two accessible rooms with walk-in showers on the ground floor and further walk-in showers available in executive room upgrades. The executive rooms also come with stunning views over The Hoe and the city of Plymouth. Guests can take advantage of the pool, sauna, steam room and gym during their stay. I didn't get to try these first hand on this visit as back in the smart reception area, it was time to meet with my tour guide for the afternoon - Jo Butler from Visit Plymouth.

Our afternoon started with a quick tour of The Box, Plymouth's stunning new museum and gallery. The gallery is free admission for those who prefer to explore at their own pace but there are guided tours available, including a behind the scenes look at the archives if you're interested in adding a little extra to a visit. The converted St Luke's Church is also included in the admission with revolving exhibitions so there is always something new to see for return visitors.

From here we headed to the harbour for lunch at The Boathouse where we were joined by Amanda Lumlet from Destination Plymouth. The 'Boathouse FLT' comes highly recommended but there are plenty of tasty choices if you're looking for refreshments on the harbour. Lunch was followed by a harbour cruise with Plymouth Boats. The cruise was an ideal way to understand the geography of Plymouth and its maritime history with an informative commentary throughout. It's an ideal introduction to a stay in Plymouth! Plymouth Boats also run services to Royal William Yard and across to Saltash in Cornwall giving additional options for groups with a free day to explore.

Back on dry land, we walked up The Barbican with its great selection of boutiques, cafes and galleries to our next stop, Plymouth Gin Distillery. We enjoyed a tour and tasting and an interesting introduction to the history of the gin, its connection to the port and the origin of cocktails. Yes - the next time you order a gin and lime Gimlet, you can claim it's for medical purposes! At the end of the tour, you can enjoy your very own G&T in the Refectory Bar.

Not yet finished for the day, Jo kindly gave me a driving tour of the city highlighting the Hoe, Royal William Yard and the location of other group-friendly hotels before dropping me back at the Crowne Plaza for the evening. Sandra had kindly upgraded me to an executive suite where I quickly changed to enjoy dinner in the penthouse restaurant watching the sunset over Plymouth. A perfect end to a great week in Devon.

Thank you to Dave of Plymouth Boats for lunch and helping to organize the mini tour of the city, Jo for being an excellent tour guide, and all at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for a lovely overnight stay and fabulous meal. No additional supplements for the sunset!

Search for 'Plymouth' for tours staying in or visiting this beautiful maritime city.