The Hoe is an obvious focal point for the city, with its spectacular backdrop of Plymouth Sound, one of the world's great natural harbours and a registered historic park (Grade II). No doubt you'll know it for Sir Francis Drake's legendary game of bowls before leaving to defeat the Spanish Armada.
With a large grassed area, sensory garden, memorials, sports activities, a range of cafes and a wide promenade there's always something to see and do. The Hoe's superb sites include the Royal Citadel and Smeaton's Tower lighthouse - rebuilt from its original base 14 miles out to sea, and the four and a half million ton granite and limestone breakwater.
Down below the Hoe Road you can enjoy the walkways and undercover sitting areas all the way down to the sea, where you can swim, fish or search for marine life on the pebble beach. We're also very proud of Tinside Lido, a restored 1935 art deco lido - a wonderful natural sea water pool open from April to September.
The Hoe acts as a venue for some great free music festivals and as a platform for the incredible British Firework Championships. We also host a range of Marine Festivals, including the annual Blue Mile to celebrate our blue environment - take part any way you want: swim or surf, kayak, stand up paddle, walk or run a mile!
Apply to host an event on our land.
If you are planning on holding an event on any park or greenspace in Plymouth, contact us.
Facilities and visitor information
Opening times
Plymouth Hoe is open 24 hours and is free to use.
Access and Seating
Plymouth Hoe is accessible to all with wide tarmac paths throughout the park as well as long the seafront. All paths are suitbale to wheelchairs and prams with plently of seating throughout the park and along the seafront.
Refreshments
There are a variety of cafés, restaurants and ice cream vans in and around Plymouth Hoe, all serving a vareity of food and drink for all occasions.
Toilets
Public toilets including a disabled toilet are located next to Valenti's café on Hoe Road.
Travel and directions
Less than half a mile from the city centre.
Accessible using public transport with bus stops from the city centre, Royal Parade and the Barbican, stopping on Hoe Road.
Disabled car parking available on the Hoe promenade.
Short term fee paying street car parking available on adjacent streets.
One mile from Plymouth Railway Station.
Plymouth Hoe Residents Association
There is a dedicated friends group who help to look after Plymouth Hoe for the future. The Hoe Residents Association are always looking for new members to help them on their mission to keep Plymouth Hoe special for everyone. Why not go along to a meeting to find out more about what they do. Check out their Facebook page to find out more about what they are up to.
Want more information on the Hoe Residents Association and all the other friends groups in the city, check it all out on the Friends of Parks Groups webpages
Parks and Waterfront BBQs
The Hoe and other parks are always a popular spots but please, if you’re going to BBQ in a public place, do follow our simple guidelines:
- Use charcoals. Gas BBQs are not allowed. Never use petrol, paraffin or biofuel.
- Put your BBQ on level ground away from trees, houses, park furniture and other people and protect the grass from getting scorched by raising BBQs off the ground.
- Take some water to put it out and make sure it’s cool before moving it.
- Empty cooled charcoal and ash into BBQ bin if provided or take it home with you.
- Keep children, pets, games and sports well away from the cooking area.
- Never leave the BBQ unattended.
On the Hoe, there are specific metal BBQ bins provided. Use them, not the plastic ones!
Things to do
With Plymouth Hoe being one of the most iconic areas in Plymouth with panoramic views over Plymouth Sound, there are plenty of things to do to keep all the family big and small entertained throughout the day.
Walks and scenery
A number of paths across the waterfront, around the park and further afield in to the city centre and the Barbican make for a number of walks, which are all accessible for wheelchairs and prams.
The Waterfront Walkway is part of the South West Coast Path which follows waterfront path around Plymouth Hoe. It is a great family walk along a unique section of the South West Coast Path, providing an entertaining and enlightening journey where art is used to highlight the city's history and heritage.
Floral displays (planted for spring and summer) can be seen throughout the park in numerous beds providing vibrant colour and a large variety of plants.
Sports, activity and play
- Pitch and putting green
- Tinside Lido is an Grade II listed art-deco style, which offers salt water swimming for the visitors and residents if Plymouth. This Lido is open seasonally so check the opening times.
- Bowls green (used by Sir Francis Drake Bowling Club)
- Playground
There is something for everyone at West Hoe Park, which is around 500m west along Hoe Road.
With a newly updated play area, pay to play activities invluding train, trampolines, crazy golf and boats as well as a large grassed area for games and picnics. A small pop up cafe is located at the park serving hot and cold drinks and a variety of food.
Wildlife, nature and conservation
The Hoe is designated as a County Wildlife Site because of the presence of 10 notable species of plants including wild clary, sea couch grass, long-bracted sedge, ivy broomrape, knotted hedge parsley, toothed medick, Plymouth thistle and round-leaved crane's bill
There are two areas of the Hoe that are managed as limestone grasslands, one beneath the Citadel and the other immediately west of the Dome
The Hoe is bordered by the waters of Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar which form a European Marine Site, consisting of a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area
Important habitats include sandbanks, reefs, estuaries and salt meadows that support important wintering bird populations including the avocet
In the approaches to the Sound, bottle-nosed dolphins and basking sharks are occasionally spotted whilst beneath the waves, the Sound is home to both the spiny seahorse and the short-snouted seahorse which reside amongst eelgrass beds
Pink sea fan, one of the UK's soft corals species, can be found in amongst rocky reefs in Plymouth Sound. The Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum (TECF) promotes the delivery of integrated management to ensure long term sustainability of habitats and species.
History
Plymouth Hoe is of great historic interest, and houses a vareity of War Memorials, including - Naval War Memorial, RAF Memorial, Armada Memorial and Drake Statue. There have been many historic events that have happened in this iconic location including:
- Sir Francis Drake famoulsy playing bowls on Plymouth Hoe before setting sail across the seas to fight the Spanish Armada
- The Mayflower set sail from Plymouth to America, carrying the pilgrims who founded the modern United State. This histroic journey will be celebrated in 2020 with Mayflower 400 year featuring events, activities, stories, culture and more.
- The Beatles Bums are now situated on Plymouth Hoe to help visitors and Plymothians recreate that iconic photo of the famous band sitting on Plymouth Hoe.
