Cornwall Street, Plymouth
Cornwall Street in Plymouth is a vibrant artery in the city's bustling shopping district, known for its lively atmosphere and array of shopping options. Located at the heart of Plymouth's commercial area alongside Armada Way and New George Street, it offers a blend of high-street stores, independent boutiques, and local vendors catering to every taste – from fashion for all ages to books, jewelry, sports gear, and toys. The street’s history dates back to at least 1812 when it connected the historic Pannier Market with other central routes.
Once a key route leading toward Cornwall, the street might have been named for its connection to the adjacent county or perhaps in honor of the Duke of Cornwall. However, its legacy extends beyond commerce; Cornwall Street also housed the Plymouth Proprietary Library, an important cultural institution until its destruction during the Second World War. In the post-war reconstruction, local figures like Mr. Jim Perry and Mr. Albert Goodwin contributed to the city’s efforts by helping clear the devastated area for the new Cornwall Street we see today.
The modern Cornwall Street is pedestrian-friendly, lined with cafes and eateries that invite visitors to relax and enjoy the bustling environment. It remains a focal point for Plymouth’s regeneration, combining the city’s post-war architecture with a modernized layout. With the popular Plymouth Market nearby, offering fresh produce and artisanal goods, Cornwall Street continues to embody Plymouth's spirit of resilience, community, and thriving local commerce.
Once a key route leading toward Cornwall, the street might have been named for its connection to the adjacent county or perhaps in honor of the Duke of Cornwall. However, its legacy extends beyond commerce; Cornwall Street also housed the Plymouth Proprietary Library, an important cultural institution until its destruction during the Second World War. In the post-war reconstruction, local figures like Mr. Jim Perry and Mr. Albert Goodwin contributed to the city’s efforts by helping clear the devastated area for the new Cornwall Street we see today.
The modern Cornwall Street is pedestrian-friendly, lined with cafes and eateries that invite visitors to relax and enjoy the bustling environment. It remains a focal point for Plymouth’s regeneration, combining the city’s post-war architecture with a modernized layout. With the popular Plymouth Market nearby, offering fresh produce and artisanal goods, Cornwall Street continues to embody Plymouth's spirit of resilience, community, and thriving local commerce.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Plymouth. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Cornwall Street on Map
Sight Name: Cornwall Street
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Shopping
Sight Location: Plymouth, England (See walking tours in Plymouth)
Sight Type: Shopping
Walking Tours in Plymouth, England
Create Your Own Walk in Plymouth
Creating your own self-guided walk in Plymouth is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Pilgrim Fathers Trail
Back in the early 17th century, a group of English Puritans – nowadays reverently referred to as the Pilgrim Fathers – fled religious persecution in their homeland and established a colony in North America that later became known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Pilgrims embarked on their perilous journey across the Atlantic from Plymouth, England in 1620 aboard a ship called the Mayflower,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.5 Km or 0.3 Miles
Plymouth Hoe Walking Tour
Plymouth Hoe, referred to locally as the Hoe, is a large south-facing open public space in Plymouth with commanding views of Plymouth Sound, Drake's Island, and further afield into Cornwall. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon word hoh, which means a sloping ridge shaped like an inverted foot and heel.
This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
This part of town has always been a meeting place, where people would come regularly... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.7 Km or 0.4 Miles
Plymouth Introduction Walking Tour
Plymouth's early history began in the Bronze Age when the first settlement emerged at Mount Batten. It is mentioned in Ptolemy's Geographia as a maritime outpost exporting bronze mirrors.
The settlement was a major port in the southwest of England in Roman times. It was surpassed as a port in the ninth century by the nearby wealthier village of Sutton, later called Plymouth.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
The settlement was a major port in the southwest of England in Roman times. It was surpassed as a port in the ninth century by the nearby wealthier village of Sutton, later called Plymouth.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles