Plymouth Engaging Walking History Tour

We launched in 2023 offering welcoming, engaging and entertaining tours around Plymouth.
We want to give you a feel for the city, and don't expect you to have an prior knowledge of history, or the area. We are flexible in our approach so are perfect for children too (we even have some sensory resources to make things more interesting!).

We are passionate about making our tours as accessible as possible. We have planned step-free routes, for people with wheelchairs or limited mobility, and have audio description training, to welcome guests with visual impairment.

The team is fully insured and we are dedicated to only share researched and authentic stories about Plymouth from the past, present and future.

It was set up by Hannah, a proud Plymothian. She used her experience in visitor engagement, heritage interpretation and digital walking trails to set up this new walking tour offer with visitor engagement at its heart.

Meeting Point

Pilgrim Way

Pilgrim Wy, Plymouth PL4 0LB, UK

Opposite the Mayflower Steps memorial. Look for the flag.

What's included:

• Local Guide

Not included:

• Entry to attractions not required as this tour does not go inside attractions.

What to expect:

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Mayflower Steps

West Pier, The Barbican, Plymouth, PL1 2LR

Learn about the Mayflower voyage, the location of the real steps and other voyages that departed from Plymouth.

5 minutes

Elizabethan House

32 New Street, Plymouth, PL1 2NA

Discover New Street and how the Elizabethan House tells the story of how the Barbican has changed over 400 years. The tour does not enter the house.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Barbican Waterfront

, , Plymouth

Explore the history and culture of Plymouth's Barbican, spanning over 500 years. Hear all about historical people including Sir Francis Drake, William Cookworthy and Lady Nancy Astor. Discover the inspiration for artists such as Lenkiewicz and Cook. See beautiful buildings including old custom's houses, historic pubs and Elizabethan homes, plus the impact that the Blitz had on Plymouth. Get local advice on restaurants, cafes and bakeries.

30 minutes

Saint Andrew Street

St Andrew St, Plymouth PL1, UK

Explore back streets, with hidden gems, including the Merchant's House (currently closed).

5 minutes

Prysten House

Prysten House Finewell Street, Plymouth, PL1 2AE

Visit the oldest merchant's house in central Plymouth, and other prominent buildings in the area, such as St Andrew's Church, Plymouth Synagogue and Plymouth Guildhall. Please note, the extent of this part of the tour depends on speed of walking and group size, so is flexible.

5 minutes

Civic Centre

Civic Centre, Plymouth PL1 2AA, UK

Discuss Plymouth's iconic post-war architecture and previous damage during the Blitz in WWII. You will find out why Plymouth city centre looks the way it does, and the city's plans for it moving into the future. The tour does not head right into the city centre, but skirts the edge of it.

5 minutes

Hoe Park

4 Osborne Place Lockyer Street, Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, PL1 2PJ

Take in the breath-taking views over Plymouth Sound, from the Hoe. Find out where the name comes from, and explore lots of the memorials and features, including Smeaton's Tower, the Naval War Memorial and Tinside Pool.

20 minutes

Smeaton's Tower

W Hoe Rd, Plymouth, PL1 2NZ

Find out why Smeaton's Tower is so iconic, and where it sat out on Eddystone Reef. If it's a clear day, you can use binoculars to locate today's lighthouse on the horizon.

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included

Royal Citadel

Royal Citadel Madeira Road, Plymouth, PL1 2PD

Walk around the outside of the impressive fort, dating from 1666, and look out to other fortifications around the coast. Discover the importance of Plymouth as a naval port.

5 minutes