Springtime in the City: Explore Plymouth’s Art, Heritage and Hidden Gems
26 March 2026
Spring is finally here, and the evenings are slowly getting lighter as we head towards the clocks changing. If you’re from further afield and planning a day trip to Plymouth, or looking for things to do in the Easter holidays, this guide will help you make the most of your visit. You can enjoy a full day exploring the city with plenty of time to experience what The Box has to offer too.
There's plenty to see for free at The Box this spring. To make the most of your day out, we suggest spending half a day looking around our exhibitions and browsing some of our permanent galleries too. For families, we have Easter activities too!
Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy is open at St Luke’s Church until 31 May 2026, featuring her lively, humorous paintings alongside a selection of sculpture and textile works. Tickets are free but we encourage you to book in advance.
You can also discover Dear Beryl in the Active Archives gallery — an intimate display of her letters, photographs and behind‑the‑scenes materials. These offer a personal glimpse into her life, influences and the friendships that shaped her career.
In addition, Journeys with Mai spans four galleries until 14 June 2026, bringing together paintings and archival material that explore travel, culture and identity. This is the last chance to view Reynolds' masterpiece, 'Portrait of Mai' before it heads to America for a while.
Why not enjoy lunch in our Kitchen & Bar before exploring the rest of the city?
Explore Plymouth across the centuries
After a morning at The Box, it's a short walk to Plymouth's Barbican area. Explore this historic port area and along the winding streets — now full of independent businesses — you'll find Elizabethan House on New Street.
Elizabethan House (open 12–4pm, Fri–Sat from 3 April) has witnessed more than 400 years of history and was a survivor of Plymouth's Blitz. After undergoing recent restoration, you can step inside for an immersive experience that tells the stories of its residents over the past 400 years. The house is open until 26 September and last entries are at 3.30pm. Check our Plan Your Visit page for any occasional closures and save money by booking ahead.
Carrying on by foot either through the back of the Barbican via Hoe Road, or along the seafront via Madeira Road where you can enjoy views of Plymouth's seafront (allowing around 20 minutes), you'll reach Plymouth Hoe.
Smeaton’s Tower (open 10am-5pm, Tue-Sun from 1 April) offers breathtaking views across Plymouth Sound and the city from the lantern room. Climb the 72‑foot lighthouse which was originally built on the Eddystone reef in 1759 at a cost of £40,000. It was dismantled in the 1880s after sea erosion and relocated — two‑thirds of it was rebuilt stone by stone on Plymouth Hoe. Smeaton’s Tower is open until on Wednesday 1 April. Check our Plan Your Visit page for any occasional closures and save money by booking ahead.
Both sites will be open on Good Friday and Easter Saturday and will be closed on Easter Sunday. Smeaton's Tower will also be open on Easter Monday. If you've never visited before, these are definitely ones to try in the Easter and May holidays!
A full day of Beryl Cook
Enjoy a full day exploring Plymouth and get more of your Beryl fix!
The Beryl Cook Sculpture Trail (until 31 July 2026) is four life‑sized 3D sculptures — created in partnership with Theatre Royal Plymouth — that bring her playful characters to life. We recommend visiting 'Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy' first, then heading out to complete the sculpture trail at your own pace. You can download the trail map to help plan your route. If you'd like to head to KARST (see below) then a suggested route would be from The Box - The Dolphin - the Bowling Green on the Hoe - The Bank pub - Pannier Market - KARST. This would take at least an hour but there would be plenty of other things to see along the way.
For the best experience, follow the trail during daylight so you can enjoy the details in good lighting and get a special selfie moment!
On Saturdays up until 30 May, you could start your day with our Beryl Cook Comedy Tour, a light hearted look at Beryl's Plymouth that takes in these fantastic sculptures. Tours start and end at The Box and prices start at £25.
KARST's Discord and Harmony exhibition (Wed–Sat 11am-5pm until 18 April 2026) features artists who, like Cook, champion community, individuality, and moments of joy among people too often overlooked in traditional art history. It also reflects the social and economic shifts referenced in Margaret Thatcher’s 1979 election acceptance speech, offering a thoughtful context for the artworks on display. Why not make this the final call of your day out? It's free entry and located in Millbay, a short walk from the city centre.