Plymouth is one of the commercial centres of the county of Devon. It became a major commercial shipping port of the industrial revolution and has gone from strength to strength since then, now boasting a population of 250,000 and its own airport. As well as the much loved Plymouth FC, the town is home to the University of Plymouth. The city has a vibrant cultural life which can be seen in the number of theatres and entertainment venues on offer. The Plymouth Pavillions host a variety of events throughout the year, including music concerts, sports events and stand-up comedy. The city's main theatrical offerings will usually be found at the Theatre Royal.
Plymouth provides shoppers with a number of options, from independent gems to big high street names. The Drake Circus Shopping Centre is one of the biggest in the region, and it has a broad range of shops to choose from. Big high street players such as Marks & Spencer, H&M and Waterstones sit alongside quality independent retailers and an array of restaurants and cafes.
Plymouth high street and city cente is a modern fully pedestrianised space, split into a number of different shopping districts and markets as well as a numbe rof restaurants and markets. Among the bug names and brands that can be found on the high street are Argos, Holland & Barrett and Accessorize.
The recently redeveloped port at Plymouth, the Barbican, is a trendy, urban mix of cobbled streets, converted warehouses, specialist shops, galleries and traditional West Country Tea Shops. The West End of the city is home to a designated Independent Quarter which showcases the best niche independent stores on offer selling everything from hand crafted jewellery to food, gifts and crafts. The Plymouth City Market boasts over 100 stalls selling a range of products from household cleaning, gifts & crafts, clothes, jewellery and even computer accessories. So whether you're looking to blow the pay check, looking for a unique gift or simply browsing, you are sure to find what you want in one of the many shopping experiences offered by Plymouth.
