Plymouth

Plymouth sits on the south coast of Devon, on the western edge of the English Channel. The city occupies land between the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar and fronts onto Plymouth Sound. Public spaces include the Hoe, a seaward headland with Smeaton's Tower lighthouse, and the Mayflower Steps on the Barbican, where a 17th-century sailing connection is marked. Parts of the shoreline lie within the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries Marine Conservation Zone, a designated area for seabed and coastal habitats.

Shipbuilding and naval support have shaped the district: HMNB Devonport occupies a large area to the west of the city centre and continues to service Royal Navy vessels. Former naval and victualling yards at the Royal William Yard and Sutton Harbour have been adapted for housing, workshops and moorings. The city contains campuses of Plymouth University, civic institutions, galleries and a fish market at the harbour; regular ferry crossings and working quays keep the waterfront active year-round.