From amazing animals at the National Marine Aquarium, magical fireworks at the British Firework Championships, picturesque boat trips along Plymouth Sound to tasting Plymouth's renowned gin at Plymouth Gin Distillery, Britain's Ocean City is bustling with exciting experiences to enjoy this summer!

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Jump to: Incredible events | Amazing animals | On the water | Discover Plymouth's rich history | Fun with friends | Free things to do | Only in Plymouth | Cultural Activities | A stone's throw away 

Incredible events

There are plenty of exciting events to look forward to this summer, from live music and concerts to art shows, family fun and plenty more.

Take a voyage on the scenic Cremyll ferry to Mount Edgcumbe for the much-anticipated Classic Car Show and Summer Fayre on Sunday 4 August, where you can marvel at the 900-strong collection of classic vehicles, and if that doesn't take your fancy, the fayre will also have more than 100 stalls selling crafts, jewellery, clothes, food and drink outlets including a licensed bar, bouncy castles, fairground rides and family-friendly entertainment from jazz music to magicians. 

Don't miss the awe-inspiring British Firework Championships on 14 and 15 August on Plymouth Hoe, for an evening of pyrotechnic fun along with fairground rides, family entertainment delicious food and drink. Join the West End Carnival on 24 August for a packed day of family fun, with a carnival parade, live music, entertainment and more. If you're into live music there are performances taking place during August in Plymouth's Central Park. Sing your heart out at the Big Tribute Festival with iconic tributes to some of the biggest names in music including Queen, Ed Sheeran, Abba, Take That and more from the 9-11 August. Or head to the Live in the Park for three days of music including Ibiza themed nights, the ultimate 80s party and a tribute to George Michael.

Discover the full events calendar for Plymouth throughout the summer.

Amazing animals

Take a trip to the UK's largest aquarium at the National Marine Aquarium and be fascinated with more than 4,000 animals to view, taking you on a journey across the world's ocean, from the shores of Plymouth Sound to coral reefs of the tropics of Australia. 

From lions and tigers to wolves, meerkats and monkeys, there's plenty to discover in Dartmoor Zoo’s 33 acres of beautiful woodland. For a more domesticated experience, plan a trip to Pennywell Farm where you can bottle-feed baby animals, groom ponies and even cuddle miniature ponies! 

Further afield,  Paignton Zoo is another great family day out to check out this summer. A short drive from Plymouth, the zoo is home to including gorillas, orang-utans, giraffes, tigers, crocodiles, red pandas, rhinos and plenty more across its 80-acre home in south Devon. 

Explore the marvellous grounds of Mount Edgcumbe with a furry friend by your side at the Mount Edgcumbe Alpaca Experience. An attraction open to all the family, the experience encompasses meeting the alpaca and getting to know about their routines with a little housekeeping if you’re up for the challenge! 

On the water 

Make the most of being in Britain's Ocean City this summer by getting out on the water in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. Sign up for a session at the Mount Batten Watersports and Activities Centre, where you can learn how to sail, kayak or canoe, or try your hand at paddle boarding with South West SUP, based in Royal William Yard. 

For a more relaxed adventure, discover the rich history and heritage of Plymouth with Plymouth Boat Trips. Enjoy a scenic harbour cruise or take advantage of the waterlinks to embark on a wider exploration to Mount Edgcumbe and the charming historic villages of Kingsand and Cawsand.

Swim, sunbathe, and watch the world go by at Tinside Lido, which has been ranked among the UK's top lidos according to The Times.

Discover Plymouth's rich history 

Plymouth is a city steeped in history waiting to be explored. Immerse yourself in exciting exhibits and discover Plymouth's historic background at The Box Museum. Consisting of thousands of natural history specimens, an amazing archive of film and photography, fascinating documents, maps and plans of years gone by and even a full-size replica woolly mammoth, the free-to-visit museum provides something for all the family to enjoy. 

Be sure to follow in the footsteps of the famous Pilgrims, who set sail from Plymouth to discover the New World on the Mayflower in 1620, by visiting the Mayflower Steps on The Barbican. The famous steps, surrounded by British and American flags, are one of the most iconic sites in Plymouth's history. A deeper insight into the voyage and further fascinating information about the Mayflower and its Pilgrims can be found at the nearby Mayflower Museum. 

View one of Plymouth's treasures at the Elizabethan House. The fascinating building, located close to the city centre and The Barbican, has well and truly seen it all in the city since it was constructed in the late 1500s. Remarkably, the building has survived all these years despite the slum clearances of the early 1900s and the Blitz of World War Two, and is now an immersive visitor experience, encapsulating the stories of the people of Plymouth throughout the generations across the past 400 years. 

Fun with friends 

There are plenty of opportunities to get one up on your friends this summer in Plymouth with a collection of competitive experiences on offer. Check out the array of all-time classic games at the newly-opened Continue Aracde in Drake Circus' independent quarter in the city centre. Packed full of classic games, pay once on entry and enjoy unlimited plays on all the games. 

Head to the Drake Circus' The Barcode and chance your arm at a variety of games including augmented reality darts, virtual clay pigeon shooting and duckpin bowling at Spinners.

Or pop upstairs to Boom Battle Bar where you can take on Beer Pong, American Pool, Axe throwing or even have a sing-song in one of their karaoke rooms!

Take on Woodland Adventure Golf at China Fleet Country Club. Visit the enchanting world of adventure and do your best to manoeuvre your ball around the water hazards and into the hole in the fewest shots possible! 

Alternatively, head to Plymouth Golf Centre and up your golf game at their state-of-the-art driving range. Equipped with Trackman Range technology, the range offers something for all the family, with mini-games to cater for golfers of all abilities. For further golf-themed fun take on the nine-hole outdoor football golf and attempt to shoot the lowest score possible.

For friends who are looking to combine their talents and challenge themselves look no further than Escapism Plymouth for an immersive escape room experience. Teams of up to six participants have an hour to try and hunt clues, crack codes and solve puzzles to escape from the themed rooms in time!

Free things to do

Delve into the depths of Britain's Ocean City with the free Plymouth Trails App which allows you to learn and explore the streets of this historic city via themed trails. The trails stretch across the city and cover a wide range of interests as they guide you from place to place. 

Explore the two free exhibitions at Plymouth's award-winning museum, The Box, this summer. Some of the hottest names in contemporary art are at the museum this summer for The Time is Always Now. The exhibition has been organised by the National Portrait Gallery and received a host of four and five-star reviews from national critics while it was on display in the capital earlier this year. Not forgetting Planet Ocean which is also available to see at The Box. The ocean-themed exhibition delves into a variety of ways we can explore, utilise, and draw inspiration from the waters to contribute to a worldwide initiative aimed at safeguarding our oceans.

Step back into the 16th century at the Elizabethan Gardens hidden in the realms of the historic Barbican area of Plymouth. An often-forgotten secret of the city, it offers a tranquil place to reflect on the hottest of days during the holiday season. The city is also bursting with beautiful green spaces to make the most of with stunning parks and luscious lawns aplenty throughout the city. Check out some of the green spaces in Plymouth you can visit this summer. The Royal William Yard is also hosting free, family-friendly activities every weekend during August, from circus shows to mini-golf there's plenty of free fun to be had down at the Yard this summer. Take a look at the free-family entertainment programme at the Royal William Yard. 

Only in Plymouth

Make the most of your stay in Plymouth and try something you can't do anywhere else this summer. Clamber up the ancient steps of the iconic 17th century Smeaton's Tower lighthouse on Plymouth Hoe and take in the unrivalled 360-degree views from the high seas of the English Channel to the hilltops of Dartmoor National Park.

Head to The Barbican and visit Plymouth Gin Distillery, the home of the renowned Plymouth Gin. The famous distillery, which is the oldest of its kind in England, has expertly manufactured its renowned spirit according to its original recipe since 1793. The building dates back to the early 1400s with the oldest part of the building – the Refectory, a medieval hall with a fine hull-shaped timber roof, dating back to 1431. Go on a guided tour of the historic distillery and learn how the world-famous drink is made - and even try some yourself!

Explore the largest collection of grade-one listed military buildings in Europe right on your doorstep at the Royal William Yard. The area is stooped in history having been constructed between 1825 and 1831. A previous Naval home - it is now a fascinating hub of living quarters, plus some shops and restaurants. The unique complex looks across the water to Cornwall and from nearby Devil's Point you can often watch Navy ships go in and out of Devonport dockyard. 

Cultural activities

Home to a range of theatres and live venues hosting a variety of performances Plymouth is full of places to go to get your culture kicks this summer. 

Experience the latest films in style at the Everyman Cinema on the Royal William Yard. The Everyman brand is 'redefining' cinema and welcomes viewers to all the latest blockbusters with a bar, velvet sofas, plus food and drinks delivered to your seat. Plymouth Arts Cinema also has a packed programme of family-friendly movies to watch across the summer holidays. From comedy to thrillers there is something to suit all tastes this summer, check out their full programme and plan your summer of movies.

Take in a show at the Theatre Royal Plymouth this summer, the largest and best-attended regional producing theatre in the UK. With three stages inside there is always something going on! The headline star of this summer's programme is The Devil Wears Prada exclusive musical which is on at the theatre until 17 August!

Indulge in a diverse programme of theatre at the Barbican Theatre. Home to dance, comedy, live music and spoken word performances, the theatre regularly holds high-quality performances for the public, as well as playing chilled-out soul and jazz music in the relaxed atmosphere of the B-Bar.

You can also immersive yourself in a journey to the moon, back in time to the dinosaur era or to the bottom of the sea at Market Hall. The venue is home to Europe's only 15m immersive dome experience. Step inside the dome and encounter a mindblowing virtual experience this summer at one of the Hall's regular screenings.

A stone's throw away

Take a short drive to Dartmoor National Park and you will come across Dartmoor Prison Museum in the small town of Princetown. Learn more about the historic, working category C prison which dates back to 1809. Discover the famous inmates who have been locked up on Dartmoor across the years. 

Visit the historic Drake's Drum at Buckland Abbey. Follow 700 years of footsteps at the part abbey and museum; from the Cistercians who built the Abbey and farmed the estate, to seafarers Grenville and Drake who changed the shape of the house and the fate of the country.

Check out the gorgeous views of south Devon with the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company. Climb aboard for hour-long trips along the beautiful river Dart then return via the train on the stunning where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. 

Take on a full-day driving tour of the local area with Devon Moors and Tours. Discover an array of locally themed tours including “Dartmoor”, “Agatha Christie”, “Devon at War” or the “South Devon Coast” and connect with the county this summer. 

Head north of Plymouth and visit an area immersed in beauty with insta-worthy backdrops, stunning sights and a fascinating history at Tamar Valley. Appreciate the beauty of the local area on one of several walking or cycling routes, which vary in difficulty, or visit one of the cultural Tamar Valley Towns at Tavistock, Saltash, Launceston and Callington. 

In partnership with GWR, Destination Plymouth’s lead travel partner