The best holiday cottages near Plymouth, including city centre pads, traditional cottages, and properties near the beach.
If you’re searching for a destination on the South Devon coast that has a historic maritime heritage, a lively seafront and a sandy beach, your next holiday might be in pretty Plymouth.
Packed with maritime heritage and historical sights, Plymouth has a long history as a thriving port city. Naturally, the city has plenty of ocean-inspired activities, including watersports, the National Marine Aquarium and hikes to the Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse on Plymouth Hoe.
Even better, a visit to Plymouth will place you in an advantageous position for investigating other parts of the south coast of Devon. The city is under 25 miles from the fishing villages of Looe and Polperro, a peaceful area for fishing trips and beach days, while beaches such as Challaborough Bay beach lie to the east. The adventure continues inland! Plymouth is under 10 miles from the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Dartmoor National Park, where biking, hiking, river cruises, canoeing, climbing and archery can all be tracked down.
With Plymouth holiday cottages scattered around the city and many more holiday homes in the surrounding rolling countryside, there are plenty of options for cosy places to stay near Plymouth. Once you’re settled into a cottage of your choice, you’ll be poised to take in the stunning sea views from Plymouth Sound and Plymouth Hoe, go paddleboarding around the Royal William Yard, and check out the live music scene along the buzzy Barbican quayside. Just pick one of the following Plymouth holiday cottages or check out more cottages in Devon to get your getaway started.
Cottages Near Plymouth:
1. Looe Street (Plymouth, Devon)
2. Mariner’s Retreat (Plymouth, Devon)
3. Coast at Beachdown (Challaborough, Devon)
4. The Brewhouse (Plymouth, Devon)
5. 1 Beachdown (Challaborough, Devon)
6. The View (Plymouth, Devon)
7. Clover Cottage (Hooe, Devon)
1. Looe Street
Location: Plymouth Devon
Best for: A Grade-II listed townhouse minutes’ walk from the Barbican quayside
Located in the centre of Plymouth, Looe Street is a bright and airy cottage with stylish décor and an enviable location. Positioned a five minutes’ walk from the sought-after Barbican quayside, you can pick a restaurant or bar with sea views for your dinner or wander the cobbles, before returning to your cosy townhouse. Don’t be fooled by the stylish aura of your new pad though, because it’s equally as historic. The Devon townhouse is a Grade II-listed property, making it an authentic and historic property.
With chic rattan furniture on the outdoor patio, you’ll always have somewhere to soak in sun rays or watch the sunset when you’re not ‘out on the town’. Inside, cushions and paintings act as a reminder of your setting in a vibrant maritime city. They’re spread across three floors and three bedrooms, a comfortable setting for a group of six. This includes young children, who will have access to a highchair and a stairgate.
Facilities: For nights when you’d like to prep your food, the kitchen at Looe Street is fully equipped with an electric oven, gas hob, fridge-freezer and microwave. There’s a dishwasher to take care of your dirty dishes, lending you more time to explore the surrounding city, and the washing machine helps take care of any sandy beach towels or grimy outdoor clothes. A permit parking space is provided, a dream for the busy Plymouth streets. If you’re looking for somewhere to chill out, options include the bath, seats in front of the woodburning stove in the open-plan living space or your outdoor courtyard. The bedrooms include three kingsize bedrooms, all with their own TV.
2. Mariner’s Retreat
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Best for: Plymouth holiday cottages in the cobbles of the Barbican district
Down a winding street in the Barbican neighbourhood, Mariner’s Retreat does what it says on the tin. The two-bedroom apartment is a retreat for any budding mariners visiting the vibrant maritime city. The comfy and compact property is surrounded by characterful eateries and is just a five minutes walk from Plymouth Hoe, where there are breathtaking views over the boats bobbing to and from the port. With Plymouth Gin Distillery down the road, any adults can easily sample the local botanicals in the city’s only gin distillery.
Whether you’re a couple or a small family, Mariner’s Retreat is a beautiful apartment on the second floor that sleeps four across a kingsize bedroom and twin bedroom. With the bedrooms at the rear of the property, your sleeping quarters are placed away from the road, meaning you can get a peaceful night’s sleep despite being in such a lively neighbourhood.
Facilities: While Mariner’s Retreat is a relatively small and cosy apartment, you won’t be without lots of creature comforts. The kitchen includes a washing machine and dishwasher, as well as all the usual meal-prep facilities such as an electric oven and hob, fridge-freezer, and microwave. If you like background noise, there’s a Smart TV, WiFi and a soundbar. The shower room has a walk-in shower for your convenience, and there’s also an ensuite attached to the kingsize bedroom if that’s in use. Classic, understated décor adds a finishing touch, along with an off-road parking space, which makes getting to and from the property easy.
3. Coast at Beachdown
Location: Challaborough, Devon
Best for: An ultra-stylish and spacious self-catering accommodation near the beach
Looking for somewhere to hole down surrounded by lush green hills and the coast, but still within driving distance of Plymouth city centre? Coast at Beachdown is located on the South Hams coast, 150 yards from Challaborough Bay beach. Unlike Plymouth holiday cottages in the city centre, this is a peaceful and remote getaway. The property is a short walk from the horseshoe cove, making it an excellent base for surfers, bodyboarders and those looking to tackle the South West Coast Path across Devon.
When you want to visit Plymouth, the journey takes around 40 minutes by car. Dartmoor National Park is also less than half an hour’s drive to the north, putting you in a great position for hikes across river valleys, forests, and remote moorlands. Overall, this is a great Plymouth cottage for stress-free breaks in South Devon with fantastic views and coastal adventures close by. The four bedrooms can sleep large groups and families, so don’t worry about leaving anyone behind.
Facilities: Super stylish, Coast at Beachdown feels more like a contemporary pad than a traditional Devon cottage. Windows stretch across the full length of the walls, showering the contemporary open-plan living space in natural light. It’s also thoroughly spacious, which is good news, considering that there are four bedrooms across two floors, including a master with an ensuite. When you decide to lounge and soak in some rays or bring your food to the outdoor dining table, French doors open up onto a large outdoor decking area, which has a parasol, generous outdoor furniture,= and views over the green slopes. The self-catering accommodation includes a huge range of kitchen appliances, including a dishwasher, microwave, oven and grill, induction hob, refrigerator, freezer and a Nespresso coffee machine.
4. The Brewhouse
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Best for: A couples’ getaway in an apartment located moments away from the Royal William Yard
Searching for a self-catering city place that’s within walking distance of Plymouth Sound, the Mayflower Steps, Plymouth Pavilions and the Theatre Royal? The Brewhouse is positioned on the water’s edge, just moments away from the Royal William Yard. So, pick a place for a port-side potion or a bite to eat, then browse the galleries before strolling five minutes back to your one-bedroom studio apartment. It’s based in an ultra-stylish and sought-after apartment complex that was the Navy’s Victualling Yard in a previous life.
Complete with a Juliette balcony, authentic limestone walls and windows that stretch to the ceiling, this Plymouth holiday home is ideal for a couples’ retreat or even a couple with one small child. There’s no need to eat out every night, unless you want to, of course, as there’s a small and well-equipped kitchen in the apartment. When it’s time for date night, there are wine bars and romantic restaurants a short walk away, and in the daytime, your quality time might include taking one of the passenger ferries from the port to Plymouth Hoe or the Barbican district.
Facilities: When you fancy a candlelit dinner inside your apartment, just head into the open-plan kitchen, where there’s an electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge, and freezer. Freeview TV, a DVD player and an iPod dock will provide relaxing tunes or a movie night. If you’re wondering how to get to this first-floor pad, there’s a lift from the ground floor, where you might have parked your car in the private parking space provided. If you have any kids, the sofa and the folding chair open up to create additional bed space.
5. 1 Beachdown
Location: Challaborough, Devon
Best for: A contemporary family getaway in Challaborough on the South Devon coast
How do a private roof terrace, sea views and a thoroughly luxurious and contemporary Plymouth holiday home sound? 150 metres from Challaborough Bay beach, 1 Beachdown joins a string of ultra-stylish and eco-friendly log cabins that are based just a few minutes’ walk from the sand. What makes 1 Beachdown special though, is that it’s as impressive outside as it is inside. There’s a spacious decking area, a roof terrace with sea views, and a tiered garden.
With three bedrooms and two bathrooms, the South Devon home is suited to family seaside getaways. Surfing and paddleboarding or kayaking tours of the coast are some of the options for activities in Challaborough, so there are plenty of ways to take in the sublime south west coast from the water. When you decide to visit Plymouth, 20 miles to the west, call by popular destinations such as Newtown Ferrers or the National Trust’s Saltram House en route to look around a historic harbour town or a huge Georgian mansion.
Facilities: Roll out of bed and hit up the fully-equipped kitchen for your morning caffeine dose, cooked breakfast or oats. It includes an induction hob, oven, washing machine, dishwasher, fridge, freezer, kettle, toaster, coffee machine and microwave. There’s a breakfast bar with bar stools if you’re eating quickly or a spacious living room with a 58-inch TV and Bluetooth surround sound for entertainment while you tuck in. A dining table awaits outside too, which is one of the big highlights of this Devon timber cottage. There’s a table and chairs on your roof terrace if you’re looking to catch some morning rays too. When you’re returning from the beach later in the day, you’ll be happy to find a communal shower where you can wash off any sand and peel off the wetsuits.
6. The View
Location: Plymouth, Devon
Best for: A pet-friendly stay next to the Royal William Yard and South West Coast Path
With the name The View, it makes sense that this two-bedroom and three-floor Plymouth holiday cottage is situated alongside the river Tamar, where boats rest in anchorage and intense sunsets play out over the water in front of your private balcony. The South West Coast Path snakes past this self-catering accommodation, making it a great setting for holidayers who are looking to hike over to the beaches and cliffs in the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
If you’ve been searching for Plymouth cottages that are pet-friendly, you’ve struck gold with The View. One well-behaved pooch is welcome to stay for an additional charge, so they can also join you on your coastal adventures. When you’re ready to dive into the city, the Royal William Yard is just a couple of minutes’ walk from your doorstep. Plymouth Sound and its sublime scenery are half an hour’s walk onwards too.
Facilities: Unwind and watch over the water from your private decking, which has furniture and a barbecue. Across the three floors, there’s a fully-equipped open-plan kitchen, a balcony, two double bedrooms, a family bathroom, utility room, and a garage with an electric charging point.
7. Clover Cottage
Location: Hooe, Devon
Best for: A traditional waterfront Plymouth holiday cottage with one bedroom
If you’re yet to hear of Hooe Lake, a short drive from Plymouth, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Positioned just off the river Plym, the lake is the ideal location for peaceful paddleboarding and kayaking activities, as well as driving into the city to see all the top sights. Clover Cottage, a traditional, one-bedroom stone cottage with a Grade II-listed status, has a waterfront position on the edge of Hooe Lake. There’s a lakeside garden where you can watch the wildlife on the lake, all while your well-behaved dog lounges at your feet.
Clover Cottage has one convenient off-road parking space, making day trips elsewhere easy. There’s a pub just a few moments away in case you fancy any evening drinks, but if not, retire to lounging in front of your inglenook fireplace or rustling up something comforting in the cute and characterful kitchen. First built around 1690, the interior retains a lot of its former charm, and includes exposed beams, a curved staircase and low ceilings.
Facilities: Clover Cottage is a self-catering Devon cottage oozing with traditional charm. If you have lots planned in the way of comfort foods, the kitchen has an electric oven, gas hob, microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine and a washing machine at your disposal. Quiet evenings could be spent with your legs propped up in front of the TV or picking up one of the games or books provided. There’s one kingsize bedroom, making this the ideal space for a couple, and there’s scope for plenty of romantic evenings under the parasol in your private, waterfront garden.
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If you want to continue scoping out all the holiday homes in Plymouth and the surrounding area, visit Breakfree Holiday’s cottages in Devon for more family-friendly, dog-friendly, contemporary, or traditional cottages.
Some of the images in this blog post have been provided by Sykes Cottages.