A charming seaside city, full of independent shops and character, also boasts Britain’s oldest bakery—making it a perfect spot for a weekend escape. Rebuilt after the Second World War and pedestrianised in the early 1990s, the Devon city has its fair share of big-name brands, but the thriving independents make it unique.
Plymouth offers plenty of treasures scattered across the centre and beyond—in the historic Royal William Yard, the bustling West End with its 150-stall Plymouth Market and the city centre. Southside Street near the Barbican is full of galleries selling prints and homewares, and it’s also famed for another reason: the UK’s oldest bakery.
Dating back to the 16th Century, it’s believed to have supplied bread to Pilgrims who set sail for America aboard the Mayflower.
Jacka Bakery’s history is remarkable, but it’s the flavours that make customers queue outside eager to snap up fresh bakes before they sell out, with its 4.8-star rating, award-winning sourdough, and buttery pastries.
One visitor described it as a “must visit” and “delicious stop” with “excellent service”, adding that the bread was “to die for”. A second said the “great bakery” had excellent pastries and friendly staff, while a third added: “It is quite simply the best bakery.”
Along the same street is The House That Jack Built, a collection of artists, jewellers and retailers, as well as the famous Plymouth Gin Distillery, a highly rated shop which offers tours.
The city centre also hides its share of luxury independents, including Michael Spiers, a jeweller whose flagship store on Cornwall Street thought to be where Sir Alan Sugar browses for watches.
Visitors can head also towards the waterfront to the Grade I listed Royal William Yard, where former Royal Navy buildings have been transformed into a hub of boutiques, restaurants, and a highly revered art hub, Real Art Make Print at Ocean Studios.
Over in Plymouth’s West End, shoppers can lose themselves in a maze of independents and the 150-stall Plymouth Market.
With everything from florists and artisan goods to street food, it’s an ideal place to try something new, like at K-Street, which sells Korean street food, or Maurish, which serves up traditional home-cooked Mauritian cuisine.
