History & Heritage

Steeped in history, there’s a lot to delve into in Plymouth – a city shaped by its past. Immerse yourself in a wondrous world of exploration as you walk in the footsteps of adventurers and explorers who strolled the streets of Plymouth in years gone by.

With Plymouth's rich past and connections with the rest of the World, you're sure to find our historic city exciting.

Some of our most famous stories begins with the origins of Plymouth, which can be traced back to Saxon times, more than a thousand years ago, and its history very much reflects its maritime location.

As a farmland on a small peninsula at the mouth of the river Plym, was referred to in the Domesday Book in 1086 as Sudtone, meaning South Farm, developed into Sutton Harbour, the hub of medieval Plymouth.

In 1572 Sir Francis Drake became the first Englishman to sail into the Pacific, and in 1577 he embarked on the first ever circumnavigation of the globe. Back in Plymouth, Drake masterminded the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588. According to popular legend, he played bowls on Plymouth Hoe as the Armada sailed up the Channel. Drake was responsible also for the establishment of England's first colony, at Roanoke in Virginia, an act that may be regarded as the origins of the British Empire.

Perhaps the most celebrated expedition to leave Plymouth was that of the Pilgrims. Persecuted for their puritan beliefs in eastern England, they set sail for the New World on board the Mayflower in 1620.

After spending a few weeks in Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod, they eventually landed in Plymouth Harbor and helped to establish a new Plymouth community.

Find a whole host of attractions below which play a significant role in Plymouth's history.