The Port of Plymouth sits between the Rivers Tamar and Plym that flow into Plymouth Sound in Devon County in southwestern England about 70 kilometers east-northeast of the Port of Falmouth. Plymouth’s economy has long been closely related to maritime activities, particularly the military until the 1980s. The United Kingdom’s only naval base refitting nuclear submarines, the Devonport Dockyard, contributes as much as 10% of the city’s income.

Almost 300 maritime and marine firms operate in the southwest area of the Port of Plymouth. Since the 1980s, the city’s economy has transformed to a base of administrative, education, medicine and health, and engineering sectors. In 2005, over 246 thousand people called the Port of Plymouth home.

The first settlement in the area of the Port of Plymouth grew at Mount Batten during the Bronze Age. The settlement grew as a trading post used by the Roman Empire. Human bones and artifacts have been found in local caves at Mount Batten dating from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age. In 1086, the Domesday Book listed the town of Sudtone, and the Port of Plymouth’s first harbor is still called Sutton Harbor. The city’s early growth benefited from trade and the movement of armies to France.

French soldiers attacked the Port of Plymouth in 1340 during the Hundred Years’ War but failed to invade the town. French Breton raiders burned the town in 1403, leading to the construction of a line of fortifications that included four towers. The remains of two of the towers are still visible at Mount Batten and at Sutton Pool.

The English fleet, led by Sir Francis Drake, sailed from the Port of Plymouth in 1588 to meet the invading Spanish Armada. By the 16th Century, the Port of Plymouth was exporting locally-produced wool products, and the port was known as a successful maritime trade center. The first attempts to colonize Virginia in the New World were made by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 16th Century. The United States’ first Pilgrims sailed to establish Plymouth Colony in 1620.

The Port of Plymouth was held by Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, and it was under siege by Royalists for almost four years in the middle 17th Century. Even though the Parliamentarians won the Civil War, the monarchy was restored in 1649, and King Charles II imprisoned many of his opponents on Drake’s Island south of the Port of Plymouth. Charles II built the Royal Citadel in Plymouth in 1665, pointing cannons both into the town and out to sea, apparently to remind residents of his supremacy.

During the 17th Century, the Port of Plymouth began to lose its influence as a trade port, as it became too expensive to ship goods to Plymouth, and the city had no facilities to process imported tobacco or sugar.

The Royal Dockyard at Plymouth Dock (now Devonport) was begun on the banks of the River Tamar in 1690. Additional docks were constructed in the 18th Century, and new homes were built near the dock, stimulating the growth of the new town of the Port of Plymouth. By 1733, about three thousand people lived there. By the late 1700s, coal and timber were the primary imports, but the city’s real wealth came from the dockyard.

By the latter 19th Century, the Port of Plymouth was importing grains, sugar cane, sodium nitrate, guano, and phosphate from Europe and the Americas. Tramways, railways, gasworks, and a few chemical works began to develop outside the dockyard. In 1914, three towns (Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse) were combined to form the Port of Plymouth.

The Port of Plymouth was heavily bombed during World War II in a series of 59 raids called the Plymouth Blitz. Though the German target was the dockyards, the bombs destroyed much of the city center and many homes, killing over a thousand people. Rebuilding efforts began in 1943, led by Sir Patrick Abercrombie, and 20 thousand new homes had been completed by 1964. Much of the damaged city center was cleared to encourage redevelopment. Today, the partly-destroyed Charles Church stands as a monument to the Plymouth Blitz.

By 1971, the army had generally left the Port of Plymouth; however, the nuclear submarine base was operating by the late 1970s, and the Port of Plymouth is now home to the Royal Marines’ 42 Commando.

The modern Port of Plymouth is one of England’s most outstanding civic, shopping, and commercial centers. New light industries have sprung up in its ever-growing suburban communities. The city is also home to industries producing chemicals, engineering products, precision instruments, machine tools, and lubrication equipment. Ship-building is still an important part of the city’s economy, but service industries have increased since the 1990s. Today, the Port of Plymouth is England’s 15th most populous city.

Associated British Ports (ABP) owns and operates the Port of Plymouth along with 20 other ports in the United Kingdom. The Parliament established the British Transport Docks Board in 1962 and reconstituted it in 1983 as Associated British Ports, when the group was incorporated and ABP Holdings PLC (APBH) was floated on the London Stock Exchange. In 2006, ABPH was acquired by a consortium of private investors and de-listed from the stock exchange. Today, ABP Ports is a subsidiary of that consortium, ABP Jersey Ltd.

The Port of Plymouth benefits from its large natural harbor, Plymouth Sound. Its Milbay Docks contain a 13-hectare tidal basin and a 200-meter long berth and anchorage for vessels to 300 meters long. The Port of Plymouth’s popularity with ocean-going cruise lines, and it is base of England’s shortest ferry route to western France and the Iberian Peninsula.

The Port of Plymouth is fully-equipped with specialized facilities to handle passengers and freight. ABP created new facilities to serve Brittany Ferries carrying both freight and passengers to France and northern Spain. At Millbay Docks, a state-of-the-art passenger terminal facilitates the efficient flow of traffic.

The Port of Plymouth also has facilities that facilitate the movement of a variety of cargoes. The West Wharf can handle vessels to 200 meters long with 8.5 meters draft, and the Trinity Pier accommodates vessels to 120 meters long with 5 meters draft. The Port also offers 5.4 thousand square meters of covered storage and about 34 thousand square meters of open storage. The Port of Plymouth’s roll-on/roll-off ramp can accommodate ro-ro vessels with capacity to 180 tons. The first-class cruise and ro-ro facilities available at the Ferryport include a modern passenger terminal.

The modern City of Plymouth is undergoing mammoth renewal efforts almost as extensive as its post-war reconstruction. Hoping to stimulate a “rebirth” of tourism, the Port of Plymouth is committed to offering visitors a wide range of leisure and cultural opportunities. The Port of Plymouth rests in an area of breathtaking natural beauty and a rich maritime heritage that combines modern city life with the benefits of a wonderful natural coastline and countryside. The city’s website contains comprehensive information on the many sights, accommodations, and opportunities available to visitors. However, there are some outstanding things in the Port of Plymouth that visitors will not want to miss.

The 17th Century Royal Citadel was built by Charles II to protect Plymouth Sound and the harbor after the English Civil War. For more than 100 years, it was England’s most important defensive position. While it is still in use by the military, it is also a popular tourist attraction where visitors can take guided tours on Tuesdays.

The Barbican is the oldest neighborhood in Plymouth and the site of many art galleries, shops, restaurants, and historic homes. Within this charming area is the Plymouth Gin Distillery, which is believed to be the last place the Pilgrims stayed before leaving for the New World. The Distillery has many interesting displays, making it a favorite spot for visiting families, as well as samples of the famous smooth gin made here. The Barbican is also the location of the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrims departed, the National Marine Aquarium, and the base for boat trips around the Plymouth Sound.

The National Marine Aquarium is the deepest in Europe. It’s located near the fish market, the old Barbican area, and the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrims sailed to the New World in 1621. It was the UK’s first aquarium established solely for education, research, and conservation. It includes 50 live exhibits and more than 400 species of animals in realistic habitats from shorelines to coral reefs.

Smeaton’s Tower is located on the Port of Plymouth’s Hoe. Famous as the first wave-washed lighthouse built of interlocking stonework, it was moved in 1882 to the Hoe and made available to the public. Fully restored and standing 72 feet tall, the Tower bestows breathtaking views of Plymouth Sound and the city.

About 25 kilometers northeast of the Port of Plymouth, Dartmoor National Park covers almost a thousand square kilometers of the wildest area of open country in southwestern England. All of Dartmoor is privately owned, but it has 47 thousand hectares of open country open to the public and 730 kilometers of public rights of way giving access to beautiful reservoirs, tumbling rivers, and deep wooded gorges. Almost half of the park is open moorland, and over 10% is forest and woodland. The National Park Authority works to protect the natural beauty, cultural heritage , and social well-being of the people living there.

The area’s coastline is over a thousand miles long, and Plymouth’s waterfront is part of the South West Coast Path linking the counties’ beaches. Visitors will find small coves, beautiful cliffs, estuaries, fishing villages, and coastal towns along the Coast Path in addition to the 25 blue flag beaches.

Water and water-related activities are a big part of life in the Port of Plymouth, and visitors will find many opportunities to sail, canoe, windsurf, and scuba dive. The Mount Batten Centre is a great place to learn about the many waterside opportunities available, including courses, and to put on or attend events, conferences, and private functions. The city holds three marinas.

The Port of Plymouth also offers a variety of international cuisine at its many hotels, restaurants, and bistros. Many of these specialize in fresh seafood, but the area has many high-end establishments where you can enjoy locally-produced foods and drink.

Travelers who want to see the Port of Plymouth by sea can find a list of scheduled cruises on the Cruise Compete website.