Plymouth 航海軍事重鎮之旅 | Britain’s Ocean City | 海盜市集 | 無謂野古董店 | 水族館 | Gin酒廠tour | 海軍基地boat tour [Eng CC]

Plymouth 航海軍事重鎮之旅 | Britain’s Ocean City | 海盜市集 | 無謂野古董店 | 水族館 | Gin酒廠tour | 海軍基地boat tour [Eng CC]

Looking for a place to swim? Want an unbeatable sea view? How about having pirates as neighbors Plus, plenty of food and drink options? Then come along with me! In the last episode, we visited Margate in the southeast of England. Still craving more? This time, let’s venture further to… …Plymouth in Devon, southwest England! Plymouth’s history dates back to the Saxon era… …thousands of years ago It is a natural deep water harbour It has always been a significant seaport with strategic value… …known for its rich maritime history One of the city’s notable figures… …is Sir Francis Drake… …the famous sailor and explorer from the late 16th century Yes, that’s his ancestor Today… …one of Plymouth’s most famous landmarks… … is Hoe Park, located on a coastal hill It’s also a popular spot for locals to picnic and hang out Just a few steps along the footpath …you’ll find Smeaton’s Tower, built in 1759 Besides its historical significance it became a popular tourist… …attraction after those four lads took a photo here in 1967 Many come and try to recreate the moment The tower offers a panoramic sea view with the countryside of Cornwall clearly visible across the water Through a small road downward you’ll see an outdoor pool that was built in 1935 Tinside Lido, is in an Art Deco-style design Although it wasn’t open for visitors during filming… it attracts many tourists every summer If swimming in a pool isn’t exciting enough for you… you can swim in the sea here too! This area was once a stop on the World Sailing Tour so it’s no surprise there are several yacht marinas here In the autumn of 1620 102 pilgrims seeking to separate from the Church of England … boarded the Mayflower in Plymouth After seven weeks of rough seas… they successfully crossed the Atlantic and settled in North America To commemorate this event… the Mayflower Steps were built But did you know? the actual boarding spot was roughly where this pub stands today? Speaking of pubs the area next to the yacht club is the bar district Besides the market on holidays one weekend in May is dedicated to Pirate Day! During the late 16th-century… Anglo-Spanish war… the British government even hired some pirates as mercenaries If you want to get into the spirit you can buy pirate gear at this annual pirate market Of course, there are plenty of authentic pirate products to choose from If you prefer not to spend any money there are still many family-friendly activities to enjoy! And what’s a pirate festival without a pirate ship? Even though it costs £12 per person to get on many people are eager to pay to get on board the pirate ship! With such a rich maritime history Plymouth has seen goods from all over the world pass through its ports This has indirectly spurred the development of local antique shops I particularly enjoy looking at antique toys and car models If you think antique toys are trivial another antique shop near the dock… guarantees items that are anything but trivial and space-consuming How about this local FC chubby bear mascot, do you have a place for it? Too bulky? How about this antique military communication device? There are also a few pieces of tableware… …reportedly from the Japanese Meiji era or late Qing Dynasty For something more practical… there’s this sewing machine from the year 1900 Plymouth is also home to one of Britain’s largest attractions… the National Marine Aquarium It houses over 5,000 fish and marine creatures Among the main attractions are various species of rays Think they’re too small? How about this large one? There are several species of rays here the aquarium is home to various Atlantic fish and sea turtles Watching the sea turtles swim slowly can be quite soothing And what’s an aquarium without sharks? This aquarium’s tank is notable for its multi-level design with each level featuring different types of marine ecosystems The lower you go, the larger the fish seem to be Is that a grouper? Reminds me of the ones often seen in Hong Kong restaurants Besides the large tank, there are many smaller tanks on each level It’s easy to spot some familiar fish here Feeling tired and hungry? Grab a bite at the aquarium’s café & enjoying a stunning ocean view For something more flavorful the fish and chips shop near the dock is a must-try! They even have awards to their name You can dine in or take away Their fried fish is truly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside perfectly complemented by their uniquely tasted special curry sauce Want something even better? I highly recommend this restaurant just across from the aquarium Their fish is incredibly fresh likely because the restaurant… …is located right next to the fish market This is the aquarium It’s like a perfect seafood supply chain! Aside from seafood, Plymouth is also famous for its gin distillery Established in 1793 this distillery has remained in the same location ever since To this day, their gin is renowned nationwide The public can visit the distillery to purchase gin and souvenirs… some of which are exclusive to the distillery It also houses a mini distillery museum However, just looking around isn’t enough I recommend taking their one-hour… behind-the-scenes tour to learn the secrets of gin production The secrets are so closely guarded that photography is prohibited I managed to sneak a photo of the seven key ingredients! The tour also includes a visit to their in-house bar which was converted from a monastery Looking for a unique pizza restaurant? You won’t find another like this that dates back to the 15th century it’s located in a Grade I listed building As for the Merchant’s House built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century it is one of the best-preserved houses of its kind in the country The exact year it was built is unknown but its first owner was the famous pirate and merchant William Parker In front of the city center shopping mall you’ll see the ruins of Charles Church It was built in 1708 but was bombed and burned out… during a German air raid in March 1941 After the war the city council decided not to rebuild it, converting it into a war memorial instead Across the road from the church is The Box Plymouth’s museum, gallery, and archive It is said to house around two million items The entrance near the main gate mainly features maritime history These wooden sculptures you see were once ship figureheads The entrance on the other side appears distinctly traditional The juxtaposition of these two different styles… of entrances is quite remarkable How can we visit Britain’s Ocean City… without taking a boat tour to see the sights? If you’re short on time and want to get the highlights there are multiple one-hour boat tours available daily One of the landmarks you’ll see along the way is the 19th century built Royal William Yard It was once a crucial food supply depot for the Royal Navy The marina opposite is so luxurious it is obviously not built for people like us The slipway at the Stirling & Son boatyard was constructed in 1763 making it the oldest of its kind in the world The boat tour also includes a visit around the outer perimeter of… …the Royal Navy base HMS Drake If you’re a military enthusiast… you’ll be excited to spot several active British warships here This time, I even saw an Astute-class… nuclear-powered attack submarine undergoing maintenance! Plymouth is so close to Cornwall… that you can take a ferry to get there Alternatively, driving or taking a train is just as convenient I’ll cover the attractions in Cornwall in more detail down the road Before leaving, take another stroll around the city center Right now, it looks like everything is boarded up and even the department stores seem a bit outdated The area is undergoing major renovations and it should look pretty nice once completed If you have time check out the Plymouth Market nearby Its layout will feel quite familiar to many Hongkongers Here, you can find dry goods, food… various wet goods, and even seafood! There are also some excellent food stalls Like this Thai food stall always has a long line of people waiting Besides the train… long-distance buses connecting Plymouth with Bristol and London… are also popular options That’s all for this episode! See you next time! Goodbye

叫得做Britain’s Ocean City, Plymouth係個天然嘅深水港, 位置又有戰略價值, 所以自古以來都係海運港口。除此之外, 今次仲會帶大家去佢一眾地標, 例如Hoe Park, Smeaton’s Tower, Plymouth Gin Distillery, National Marine Aquarium 等等, 更會介紹有乜好野食。

Plymouth is called Britain’s Ocean City. It has always been a significant seaport with strategic value, known for its rich maritime history. In this episode, we’ll also be taking you to some of Plymouth’s most famous landmarks, such as Hoe Park, Smeaton’s Tower, the Plymouth Gin Distillery, and the National Marine Aquarium. Plus, we’ll introduce you to some of the best places to eat.

Music courtesy:
Staycation – Corbyn Kites
Eventide – Purple Planet Music

#plymouth #uktravel #德文郡 #英國小鎮