UK vacations appear to be immensely popular this year, most likely due to the economic downturn and the weak pound. Great Britain has a large number of top class tourist destinations including London (the capital city of England) and other interesting cities plus a collection of seaside resorts such as; Blackpool, Weston-super-Mare, Bognor Regis and Torquay. One seaside town commonly overlooked is Plymouth in the south of England.

When you first arrive Plymouth appears a little plain and primarily modern, but searching a little bit deeper and you will soon discover that Plymouth has a fascinating history and a deep association with the sea. As far back as the 1500’s Plymouth has had a busy port. In 1588 Sir Francis Drake set sail from the town’s port to successfully defend England by defeating the Spanish Armada. A further historic moment occurred in 1620 when the Pilgrim Fathers embarked from the port.

It is possible to take inexpensive short breaks in Plymouth by booking rooms in bed and breakfast in Plymouth rather than booking a costly hotel. A quick search on Yahoo will show that it is possible to book a room for a little as £29 a night and some establishments offer other meals at a reasonable price, commonly equivalent to, or less expensive than local restaurants.

Things To See And Do In Plymouth

There are numerous places of interest in the town which are worth a visit. Popular tourist attractions include; Merchant’s House Museum, St Andrew’s church, the National Marine Aquarium and the Mayflower Steps. A trip on a boat around the naval base is a superb way to spend some time and if you discover that you have more time to spare why not take a day trip to places close by Plymouth, for example; Mount Edgcumbe, Saltram House or Buckland Abbey.

Saltram House is a fine Tudor Mansion which is situated two miles from the town, Mount Edgcumbe is a further Tudor house with coastal paths, landscaped gardens and parklands, and Buckland Abbey, about 6 miles in distance from Plymouth, is a Cistercian abbey which was at one time by Francis Drake and was later renovated as a family home.

If you and your family are in the process of thinking about spending a few days in Plymouth it is immensely important that you reserve your  room as early as possible because, sadly Plymouth guest houses and hotels tend to be amazingly busy and are frequently fully booked for weeks or even months in advance. If you are travelling in a group you may find that serviced apartments in Plymouth prove to be cheap alternative to bed & breakfast in Plymouth. If you are visiting England from overseas then you should consider booking a room for a few days in London hotels to take in the sights of the nations capital too.