Smeaton's Tower

Smeaton’s Tower, Plymouth – A Must-Visit Historic Gem! As a Google Local Guide and an explorer of hidden gems, I highly recommend visiting Smeaton’s Tower if you're in Plymouth. This iconic red-and-white lighthouse offers not only a fascinating dive into maritime history but also one of the best panoramic views of Plymouth Hoe and the coastline. Climbing to the top is a bit of a workout, especially through the narrow spiral staircase, but it's absolutely worth it. Each level has well-preserved displays showing how the lighthouse keepers lived and worked — a real glimpse into the past. The top viewing platform is the highlight: the fresh sea breeze, stunning vistas of the English Channel, and the sense of history make it an unforgettable experience. Staff were friendly and informative, adding to the overall visit. Pro tips: Wear comfortable shoes, and don’t forget your camera! Whether you're a history buff, architecture lover, or just in for the views, Smeaton’s Tower is a Plymouth treasure you shouldn't miss.

We caught it as the sun was going down. It's in a prominent location. Not sure whether you can climb it. Settings surrounding the tower were fabulous. It was nice and quiet.

my boyfriend and i came for a lovely 1 night stay and decided to visit as we were only a 5 minute walk away and it was nice and good views!

£5 entry for adults. What great value as you don't get in anywhere else for that nowadays? Fascinating history and experience.

Have walked past thousands of times but not been in since a child. It was 10 am and they had just opened, £5 admission and I had the whole tower to myself. The climb is not too bad, two low doorways to duck under and four sets of ladders. The views from the top are spectacular and a nice place to catch your breath in the breeze and take in the views. Staff were friendly and helpful. Well worth a visit if not been before 👍

Always happy to see Smeatins tower whilst visiting Plymouth, brings back fond memories seeing it from the Hoe or whisky sailing back into Devonport dockyard.

This is a pretty special place, I rely enjoyed my time spent here. We walked up the tower, entrance was £5 each if I remember correctly, very interesting and we had a fabulous guide who was from Poland perhaps who was full of interesting knowledge about the tower and Plymouth in general. A wonderful place to visit.

This is a nice opportunity to see what it is like inside a lighthouse. This decommissioned lighthouse still has artefacts inside showing its history. It has low ceilings and narrow stairs but you get great views from the top.

A famous landmark on Plymouth's Hoe, it was originally built on the Eddystone reef in 1759. However, it was removed in the early 1880s when it was found that the sea was undermining the rock underneath. Most of the structure was moved stone by stone to its current place on Plymouth Hoe where it now stands as a memorial to the engineer and designer, John Smeaton. It has been a Grade 1 listed building since 1954. I have lost count of the times I've climbed the 93 steps and ladders up this 72 ft high tower, usually to show a relative or friend the sights of Plymouth Sound and the city when they came to visit! It's open to the public all year round (apart from Christmas and Good Friday).