Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth Hoe is a wide, open public space on the south side of Plymouth, Devon. It stands above low limestone cliffs that face the sea and looks out over Plymouth Sound, Drake’s Island and the Hamoaze to Mount Edgcumbe in Cornwall. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for a sloping ridge shaped like a foot and heel. The Hoe has been a landmark for centuries, long before the city grew around it. The Hoe is known for stories about Sir Francis Drake playing bowls here in 1588 while waiting for the tide to change before sailing against the Spanish Armada. The Royal Citadel, a star-shaped fortress built in the late 17th century, still stands on the eastern edge and remains in military use. Smeaton’s Tower, the upper part of the Eddystone Lighthouse moved here in 1882, overlooks Tinside Lido, a 1930s outdoor pool built during the Depression. Statues and war memorials line the northern side, including one to the Royal Naval dead of the two world wars. Visitors find a long tarmacked promenade that serves as a parade ground for displays by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. The Marine Biological Association’s laboratory sits within the southern fortifications of the Royal Citadel. The Hoe is always busy with warships, ferries, fishing boats and sailing vessels, and the Fastnet yacht race ends here. The annual British Firework Championships draws thousands of spectators each summer.