Location: Plymouth
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10 Monuments & Statues in Plymouth That You Shouldn't Miss
Plymouth (/ˈplɪməθ/ ( listen)) is a city on the south coast of Devon, England, about 37 miles (60 km) south-west of Exeter and 190 miles (310 km) west-south-west of London. It lies between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound to form the boundary with Cornwall.
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1. Naval Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 338 reviews
The Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorates 7,251 sailors of the First World War and 15,933 of the Second World War. The Memorial is situated centrally on The Hoe which looks directly towards Plymouth Sound. It is accessible at all times. Copies of the Memorial Register are kept at the Tourist Information Office at Island House, 9 The Barbican, Plymouth, PL1 2LS, and also in the Naval Historical Section at Plymouth Library.
Reviewed By Johnny_vegan - Glastonbury, United Kingdom
Well, it Christmas, so I had to make that joke, and this impressive naval monument is the centrepiece above Plymouth Sound and Drake's Island and honours those who have lost their lives in military action, specifically the First and Second World Wars, and over 22 thousand names are inscribed on the monument, making it a very poignant place to spend a few minutes quietly contemplating. Rumour has it that Francis Drake played bowls on the Hoe before sailing ship to have a bust-up with the Spanish Armada. There is also a monument to him nearby.
2. Merchant Navy & Fishing Fleets Monument
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By L7768EQdavidd - Devon, United Kingdom
Thursday 25th June and we visited Plymouth Hoe, where this statue is situated. It stands in front of the Naval Memorial Moument with the Drake Statue on one side and the Armada Statue on the other. It depicts a seaman proudly standing on a plinth, with a pair of binoculars hanging around his neck. The statue appears to be looking outwards over Plymouth Sound. The entire monument, consists of a bronze statue standing on a granite plinth. including the plinth, and stands 6 metres (approx. 20 feet tall). On the front of the plinth is plaque, below the Merchant Navy crest, and the inscription on the plaque reads, as follows:- "This monument is dedicated to those men and women, who serve in, or who have served in, the British Merchant Navy or Fishing Fleets in times of both war and peace." On the right hand side of the plinth, is another plaque, providing historical information. The Statue was officially unveiled by HRH Princess Royal on Tuesday 3rd of September 2019, which was Merchant Navy Day.
3. American D - Day Embarkation Memorial
4. Theatre Royal Plymouth
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,042 reviews
The Theatre Royal Plymouth is the largest and best attended regional producing theatre in the UK and the leading promoter of theatre in the South West. There are two distinctive performance spaces; The Lyric and The Drum, and a new workshop and performance space, The Lab, will open in October 2013.The range of work presented and produced is incredibly extensive, including regular collaborations with leading theatre companies in the UK and beyond. The programme includes major touring drama, musical productions, leading opera and dance. The Theatre Royal Plymouth also produces and presents new plays and has built a national reputation for the quality of its programme and innovative work in The Drum, winning the prestigious Peter Brook award. New musicals and larger scale drama are co-produced for The Lyric, often with commercial or subsidised partners and many productions tour nationally or transfer to the West End. The Theatre Royal Plymouth provides an exceptional Creative Learning programme with a focus on engaging young and disadvantaged communities. The award-winning theatre production and learning centre, TR2, contains unrivalled set, costume, prop-making and rehearsal facilities.
Reviewed By Archsavy
Whole show was superb. The eloquent timely delivered wit courtesty of Brian Conley was professional theatre at it's all time best. His interaction with young and old could not have been better. His colleagues were also at the top of their game. The eye for detail with the costumes /props and scenery was second to none especially the innovation of the flying horse and carriage. This was the best Pantomine has seen since Jo Pasquale in 2011 and Nigel Havers/Bobby Davro and Lee Mead in 2014. Such a contrast to the poor pantomine productions of the previous two years. Absolutely Amazing.
5. Royal Marine Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Brianngog - Avgorou, Cyprus
The Royal Marine Memorial was erected originally as a reminder of those lost in World War One and still stands proud today as a Fitting Tribute to those lost in order to give us the life we all are able to enjoy today.
6. Nancy Astor Statue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By walnutt2019 - Plymouth, United Kingdom
There has been many cartoon character statues built in this past decade and it is about time the First Lady to take her seat in parliament is respected. Especially in her home town. The lady Astor statue takes up less then 5 minutes to visit and should be respected by most people who visit. The statue itself is beautiful and there is no faults to it.
7. Hoe Promenade
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By L7768EQdavidd - Devon, United Kingdom
Thursdsy 25th June and we walked along this promenade which stretches for roughly 430 metres (roughly 1,410 feet) through Hoe Park, which is situated on the world famous Plymouth Hoe. Walking the Promenade is an ideal way to enjoy the panoramic view over Plymouth Sound and Drake's Island. It is a wide even walkway, with lawns on either side, so easy for walking, wheelchairs and child buggies. It crosses Hoe Park from Elliot Street on the east of the Park to Hoe Road on the west. Along with the impressive views that are a number of statues, monuments and memorials Including the Merchant Navy & Fishing Fleets Monument and the Royal Airforce & Allied Airforces Monument. There are statues to commemorate Sir Francis Drake and Nancy Astor. The 2 most prominent landmarks on the Hoe are Smeaton's Tower and the Naval Memorial. They dominate the skyline along the Hoe. The Armada Memorial is also an impressive landmark. Keep an eye out for the Viking Stone at the top end of the Promenade near Elliot Street entrance to the Park.
8. Look II
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Jannerbloke - Devon, United Kingdom
It’s one of those Antony Gormley cast iron and rusty human forms which more often than not are installed at important or prominent vantage points, not unusually in or beside the sea. This one is about twice average adult height and constructed of 22 blocks in one erect form. I understand that the work was commissioned by The Box and Plymouth City Council. It was installed during September 2020 to coincide with the beginning of the Mayflower 400 events and happily its appearance coincides with the belated opening of The Box building. LOOK II is sited almost exactly where Sir Francis Chichester disembarked from his yacht Gipsy Moth II after completing the first single-handed circumnavigation of the world. The sculpture’s linked block construction is said to signify the collective body and the shared built environment. It’s aim is to evoke the yearning to travel across the horizon to establish life in another place. During pub opening hours at the Waterfront ‘pub and eatery’ the gates from Grand Parade are unlocked and you can walk down and get up close and even touch the now bright rusty finish. I did this and took some pics although I had to wait while an exuberant newly retired couple had great fun taking arty shots with the wife posing entwined up close and personal with the figure, something the artist no doubt tolerates and possibly encourages throughout his body of public work. I liked the figure and it was good up close but I think that the most effective and satisfying view was from a point high up the drive or from the wall on the main road roughly north north east.
9. Devon and Dorset Regiment Memorial
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1 reviews
10. Sir Francis Drake
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By A7804PAdavidb - Rayong, Thailand
When the Spanish Armada heading to invade England was first sighted, Drake is reputed to have said: "Time enough to play the game and thrash the Spaniards afterwards," and continued to play his game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe. The story is probably apocryphal, but the tide and weather on that day, Friday 29 July 1588, may well have justified Drake finishing his game because he could not have set sail anyway until the tide turned. Today, above the bowling green on Plymouth Hoe, Joseph Boehm’s 3-metre-high bronze statue of Drake stares out defiantly over the Sound, a monument to the great Devon sailor, adventurer, and sometimes pirate. But pirate or not, Drake is recorded in British history as the hero who thwarted the King of Spain’s attempt to invade Protestant England.
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