Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PLYMOUTH
POP 258,700
For decades, some have dismissed Plymouth as sprawling and ugly, pointing to architectur-
al eyesores and sometimes palpable poverty. But the arrival of two celebrity chefs (Hugh
Fearnley-Whittingstall and Gary Rhodes) and on-going waterfront regeneration begs a re-
think. Yes, the city (an important Royal Naval port) suffered WWII bomb damage, and
today it's still sometimes more gritty than pretty, but Plymouth is also packed with possibil-
ities. You can swim in an art deco lido, tour a gin distillery, learn to kayak, roam an aquari-
um, take a boat trip across the bay, then see a top-class theatre show and party till dawn.
And the ace in the pack? Plymouth Hoe - a cafe-dotted, wide grassy headland offering cap-
tivating views of a boat-studded bay.
