Europe > United Kingdom > Plymouth (PLHx)
The Car or no Car advice for Plymouth can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Plymouth ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Plymouth ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Plymouth?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Like Portsmouth, Plymouth’s airport is closed, but the city itself still makes sense in a transport-focused list because Plymouth functions well without an airport and, often, without a car.
✈️ Plymouth Airport: Historical, Not Operational
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Plymouth Airport closed to commercial passenger flights in 2011
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Its former IATA code still appears in datasets, but it has no practical role today
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Plymouth is now served instead by:
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EXT (Exeter)
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BRS (Bristol)
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LHR / LGW via rail connections
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For visitors, rail has completely replaced air as the primary access mode.
🚆 Rail Is Plymouth’s Real Gateway
Plymouth sits on one of the UK’s most dramatic main lines.
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Direct trains to London Paddington
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Strong regional links across Devon and Cornwall
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The coastal railway via Dawlish is a destination in its own right
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The station is walkable from the city centre and waterfront
For most visitors, arriving by train is easier and more pleasant than driving.
🏙️ A Compact, Walkable Core
Plymouth works well on foot once you arrive.
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Hoe, Barbican, city centre, and waterfront are close together
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Ferries connect to Cornwall and coastal villages
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Local buses cover suburban areas effectively
A car is rarely needed for city exploration.
🚗 When a Car Becomes Useful
The case for a car appears if you want to explore:
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Dartmoor National Park
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Rural Devon and Cornwall
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Remote beaches and villages
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Smaller destinations not well served by rail
For these trips, Plymouth works well as a rail-first base with optional car hire later.
Conclusion: should you rent a car in Plymouth?
No for the city itself — yes if you’re using Plymouth as a base for the southwest.
Despite having a closed airport, Plymouth is well connected by rail and sea, and its compact centre suits car-free travel. A car only becomes useful once you head into Devon and Cornwall’s countryside.
💡 Rule of thumb:
Arrive in Plymouth by train, explore on foot, rent a car only if the moors or coast call. 🚆🚶♂️🚗
