United Kingdom

How to get from Exeter to Plymouth

Compare all transport options: bus, ferry, train, flight. Prices, durations and practical tips.

⏱
FASTEST
0h 55min
💶
From
4€
📍
Distance
59 km
Powered by 12Go system
⚡ Quick answer

Checked offer from Exeter to Plymouth: Coach, about 0h 55min, from €4. Main companies selling this route on 12Go (checked on November 5, 2026): Megabus, National Express, FlixBus; main departure point: Exeter Honiton Road.

Distance: 59 km. Data updated on .

One option to get from Exeter to Plymouth

Select an option below to see the route details and compare prices. Secure booking via our partner 12go.asia.

Coach
0h 55min – 1h 10min
4 – 13 €
View
🚌 Departure from Exeter
📍Coaches generally depart from Exeter Bus and Coach Station in the city centre. It is a straightforward place to catch a coach, with waiting facilities nearby. Always confirm the exact stop or bay on your e-ticket before you travel.
🚇The coach station is in the city centre and easy to reach on foot from most central accommodation. From the railway stations, use a local bus or taxi, and allow yourself some extra margin if you are carrying heavy luggage.
⏰Departures run regularly through the day, from the morning into the evening. First and last times vary by day of the week, so check the live timetable on this page and avoid relying on the final service.
💸 Transport from 4€ per person
⚡ Fastest: 0h 55min
🗓 Book now Secure payment · via 12go.asia

Companies selling this route on 12Go

Offers listed on 12Go on November 5, 2026 for a departure on November 26, 2026. Timetables and prices change with the date: check them before booking.

CompanyModeDeparts fromFromOffers
FlixBus Bus Exeter Bampfylde St €4 7
National Express Bus Exeter Bampfylde St €7 8
Megabus Bus Exeter Honiton Road €13 19
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Practical tips

💡
Book your coach early

Coach fares are lowest when you book ahead and climb as departure nears. Lock in your seat as soon as your plans are firm, particularly for weekends and school holidays, to avoid sold-out services and last-minute price jumps.

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Compare before buying a walk-up ticket

Tickets bought at the station on the day are often the most expensive way to travel in Britain. Compare options online first, and if the coach suits your plans, book it in advance rather than paying a premium at the counter.

💡
Confirm the exact departure point

Exeter has both a coach station and railway stations, and mixing them up is an easy mistake. Read your e-ticket carefully, note the stop or station named, and check it on a map before heading out.

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Double-check connections from London

If you are travelling on from London or an airport, check the station or terminal named on every ticket. London has several coach and rail stations, and arriving at the wrong one can cost you your connection.

💡
Keep your e-ticket handy and arrive early

Save your e-ticket on your phone and, if possible, offline. Arrive at the stop a little before departure, especially in busy periods, and avoid planning a tight connection on the last service of the day.

The journey experience

Exeter to Plymouth is one of the easiest hops in Devon, and the coach is the option to know about. Rather than decoding train ticket types and peak pricing, check the comparison on this page and see at a glance how long the ride takes and what it typically costs.

The coach is a simple city-to-city ride that suits backpackers, students and anyone on a budget. You get a seat for the whole journey, room for a rucksack or suitcase, and no fare categories to puzzle over. Services run through the day, so you can plan around your own schedule rather than a single fixed departure.

Coach fares move with the day, the hour and how early you book, so reserve ahead for the best prices, especially on bank holidays and summer weekends when Devon and Cornwall get busy. Check the departure point on your e-ticket before you leave and arrive a little early. Booking online gives instant confirmation, so you can travel without second-guessing.

Frequently asked questions — Exeter → Plymouth

Why visit Plymouth?

  • ✓ Stroll the Barbican, Plymouth's cobbled old quarter, and visit the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrims set sail in 1620
  • ✓ Walk the Hoe promenade to Smeaton's Tower lighthouse and enjoy panoramic views over Plymouth Sound
  • ✓ Explore The Box, the award-winning museum and gallery tracing the city's maritime and cultural history
  • ✓ Tour the National Marine Aquarium, the UK's largest aquarium, with its deep Atlantic Reef tank and shark exhibits
  • ✓ Take a boat trip or kayak around Plymouth Sound and the Royal William Yard, a restored naval victualling site full of restaurants
🌙
Recommended stay
2 to 3 nights — enough for the Barbican, museums, waterfront and a Dartmoor or Cornwall day trip

When to visit Plymouth?

TEMPERATE OCEANIC CLIMATE

May to September — mildest temperatures, longest daylight and the best conditions for boat trips and coastal walks

Jan 😞
Feb 😞
Mar 😐
Apr 😐
May 😊
Jun 😊
Jul 😊
Aug 😊
Sep 😊
Oct 😐
Nov 😞
Dec 😞
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In Plymouth — Plan your stay
Accommodation, activities and tips selected for you
🏨 Accommodation
Hotels in Plymouth
Compare the best rates available
via trip.com

What to do in Plymouth?

Local experiences, must-see sights and activities selected for you

MUST-SEE
⚓
The Mayflower Steps and Barbican
Start at the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail in 1620, then wander the cobbled Barbican, Plymouth's oldest quarter with Elizabethan houses, galleries and harbour pubs. Free to explore at any hour. Visit early morning for quiet streets and good light, and check the Mayflower 400 plaques along the quay.
🏰
Smeaton's Tower and Plymouth Hoe
Climb the red-and-white lighthouse on the Hoe, where Drake reputedly finished his bowls game before facing the Armada. The 93 steps reward you with a wide view over Plymouth Sound. Entry costs around 5€. Opening hours are seasonal and the tower closes in bad weather, so check ahead and arrive before midday.
🌊
Tinside Lido Open-Air Swim
This Art Deco saltwater pool from 1935 sits below the Hoe, with sea views over the Sound. Open in summer only, usually from late May to early September. Tickets run about 5€ for adults. Book a slot online on sunny days, bring a towel, and expect the water to be unheated and bracing.
🐠
National Marine Aquarium Visit
Britain's largest aquarium, on the Sutton Harbour waterfront, features sharks, rays and a deep reef tank, with a strong focus on local marine conservation. Tickets cost roughly 22€, cheaper when booked online. Allow two to three hours and arrive at opening time to avoid school groups, especially on rainy days.
🍸
Plymouth Gin Distillery Tour
Tour the Black Friars Distillery, a former monastery that has produced gin since 1793, the oldest working gin distillery in England. Guided visits include a tasting and cost around 15€. Book ahead, especially at weekends, and ask to try the navy-strength gin if you like a stronger spirit.
🛥️
Mount Batten Ferry and Walk
Take the short Mount Batten ferry from the Barbican, a few minutes across the water, to a peninsula with a Tudor-era tower, a beach and views back to the Hoe. Fares are about 3€ return. Pair it with the coastal path, and check the timetable since crossings are less frequent in winter.
🥧
Plymouth Market and Local Food
Browse Plymouth Market, a lively indoor hall with stalls selling pasties, fresh fish and local produce. Grab a Cornish-style pasty for around 4€ and a fresh crab sandwich. Go on weekday mornings for the best selection, as many stalls close early afternoon and on Sundays.
🌳
Saltram House and Parkland
Saltram is a Georgian mansion east of the city, with original Robert Adam interiors and large parkland above the Plym estuary. House entry costs about 15€ with the National Trust, while the grounds are cheaper. Walk the estuary paths at golden hour and spot deer and wading birds, away from most tourists.

How long to visit Plymouth?

2 to 3 days

Plan 2 days to cover the essentials: the Barbican and Sutton Harbour, the Hoe with its lighthouse and Plymouth Gin distillery, and the Royal William Yard. With a third day, add a boat trip on the Sound or a day trip to Dartmoor or Cornwall via the Cremyll ferry. Book the Mayflower Steps and National Marine Aquarium visits in advance in summer.

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