A Beryl Cook Inspired Circular Walk Around Plymouth (with The Box, fish & chips views & hidden gems)
We don’t get into Plymouth nearly as often as we probably should. Being Devon locals, it’s usually Exeter that wins the day simply because it’s that bit closer. Not that we’re starting a city rivalry here… but if you had to choose, are you team Exeter or team Plymouth? (Careful now, that one could get controversial!)
On this occasion though, Plymouth had a very specific draw — the fantastic Beryl Cook exhibition at The Box. That, combined with the brilliant Beryl Cook sculpture trail, gave us the perfect excuse to turn the visit into a full circular walk through the city.
And honestly? It turned into one of those days where the city surprises you at every turn.
Starting point: Plymouth Market & the first Beryl Cook character
We began right in the heart of the city outside Plymouth Market, on Market Avenue.
It’s here you’ll find the first of the Beryl Cook sculptures — The Shopper — perfectly placed in the hustle and bustle where she belongs. It’s a great way to kick things off: everyday life, colour, and character right in the middle of the city.
From there, we headed down Raleigh Street, weaving towards the Theatre Royal and crossing over Royal Parade.
Just behind the theatre, tucked near The Bank pub, we found the second sculpture — Ruby Venezuela. This stretch already starts to feel like a little hidden corridor of culture once you know what you’re looking for.
We then continued via Derry’s Cross, Athenaeum Lane, Athenaeum Street and Citadel Road, passing right through the city’s layers of history.
A little side note here — if you’re into local curiosities, keep an eye out around Alfred Street where Beryl Cook once ran a guest house nearby. Easy to miss, but a nice little detail for fans of her work.
The Hoe: views, wind, and a fish & chip temptation
From here the walk naturally drifts towards one of Plymouth’s most iconic spaces — The Hoe.
On the way, you pass The Hoe public bowling green where you’ll find the third sculpture — Bowler — standing right by the action.
Then suddenly the city opens up.
You’re on the Hoe.
Smeaton’s Tower stands proudly on the left, the wind usually doing its best impression of a coastal storm (Plymouth never does “gentle breeze” particularly well).
We followed the promenade down towards Hoe Road where the fourth sculpture appears — Hips & Chips.
Now, this one is dangerous if you’re hungry.
It’s almost impossible not to start thinking about fish and chips looking out over Plymouth Sound. We may or may not have paused for a break here… purely for research purposes, of course.
Barbican finish for the sculpture trail
➜ From the Citadel towards the Barbican
After the Hoe, we made our way along Hoe Road, past Tinside Lido, then around Madeira Road and the Royal Citadel, heading down into the historic Barbican.
This is where the final sculpture waits — The Sailor, located outside The Dolphin pub on Southside Street.
At this point, we’d completed the full Beryl Cook trail across the city centre and waterfront. It really does work as a walk — each sculpture feels placed in a scene that matches the original paintings beautifully.
The Box: culture stop in the city centre
From the Barbican, we looped back inland towards Tavistock Place and The Box — Plymouth’s incredible museum, gallery and archive.
We passed through Southside Street, Buckwell Street, Old Town Street, and up through Drake Circus Shopping Centre, before arriving at Tavistock Place.
The Beryl Cook exhibition at The Box is well worth setting time aside for. It ties everything together — the humour, the people, and the everyday scenes you’ve just walked through in real life.
Drake’s Place Reservoir: a hidden green surprise
After the exhibition, we continued the circular route north towards somewhere we’d wanted to visit for a while — Drake’s Place Reservoir.
It’s a bit of a hidden gem tucked just above the city centre. Calm, green, and surprisingly peaceful considering how close you are to the busy streets below.
From here, we looped back down through Queen Anne Terrace and rejoined the city centre near Drake Circus.
Finishing the loop
To complete the circular walk, we passed back through Cornwall Street, bringing us full circle to where we started outside Plymouth Market.
A proper loop through the city — waterfront, culture, history, green space, and a bit of fish & chips temptation thrown in for good measure.
Final thoughts
Plymouth really surprised us on this one.
The Beryl Cook sculptures make it feel like the city is telling its own story as you walk through it — slightly cheeky, full of character, and very much rooted in everyday life.
And The Box exhibition adds real depth if you want to understand the inspiration behind it all.
We’ll definitely be back to explore more — and maybe next time Exeter will have to come up with something equally convincing!
If you’re thinking of doing this walk, we’d highly recommend it as a full day out. Wear comfy shoes, bring snacks (or plan for fish & chips on the Hoe), and keep your eyes open — Plymouth has a habit of hiding things in plain sight.