Elizabethan House
Restored late-16th-century merchant house on Plymouth's Barbican, with self-guided rooms telling the stories of its former residents.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Elizabethan House is one of the rare surviving historic buildings on Plymouth's Barbican, a district that grew up around the port. The timber-framed house dates from the late 1500s, and its first recorded owner appears in 1631. Over four centuries it was home to merchants, businessmen, fishermen, washerwomen and dressmakers, and it changed little while the fortunes of the neighbourhood rose and fell.
The last recorded owner gave up the deeds in 1926. The house was saved from demolition and opened as a visitor attraction in 1930. It survived the Blitz and the slum clearances of the early twentieth century, but it was closed in 2015 for essential repairs and a new presentation.
The restoration, completed around 2020 and 2021 as part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations, repaired the oak timbers, strengthened the floors and foundations, and added a two-storey extension at the back to support the weakened rear wall. The tiered garden and boundary wall were rebuilt and the rooms were redecorated in authentic style. Today visitors walk through the rooms on a self-guided route with sound and visual effects, meeting people such as the first owner, a washerwoman and a wig maker. The house is run by The Box Plymouth.
Highlights
- Self-guided tour through carefully restored rooms
- Sound and visual effects that bring former residents to life
- A Georgian room and examples of both rich and poor living conditions
- Spiral staircase, oak beams and earth plaster walls
- Archaeological finds from the restoration
Permanent exhibition
- Elizabethan House experience – A self-guided route through restored rooms with sound and visual effects, introducing past residents such as the first owner, a washerwoman and a wig maker.
- Founded
- 1930
- Operated by
- The Box Plymouth (Plymouth City Council)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £7 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £3.50free up to age 4 · Ages 5 to 15; under-5s enter free. The walk-up price is £4. |
| Groups (15+ people) | –Groups of 15 or more should arrange a date and arrival time with the museum; payment is taken on arrival. |
| Families | £17Up to 2 adults and 3 children; the walk-up price is £19. |
| Additional child on a group ticket | £2 |
Advance online tickets cost less than walk-up prices (adult £7 online, £8 walk-up). Members of The Box enter free.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Access is limited because the house is over 400 years old, with a narrow spiral staircase, low door frames and ceilings, and uneven, sloping floors. Seating is limited in some rooms. Visitors with access questions should contact the museum before booking. There are toilets in the house, and public toilets nearby on Southside Street.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £17 · Up to 2 adults and 3 children; the walk-up price is £19. |
Children aged 5 to 15 pay a reduced price, and all children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Southside Street (bus 25)
Plymouth Citybus number 25 runs via Southside Street and The Hoe and is the best bus link. Plymouth railway station is a 25-minute walk, Plymouth Coach Station is a 15-minute walk, and local ferries link to Mount Batten, Torpoint and Cremyll.
By car
Paid parking
On-street pay and display parking around the Barbican and The Hoe. The nearest multi-storey car parks are in Drake Circus shopping mall and behind the Theatre Royal.
Park & Ride services run to Royal Parade, a 10-minute walk from the house. National Cycle Route 27 passes nearby along the waterfront.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Food and drink are not allowed inside the house. Visitor toilets are in the house and nearby on Southside Street.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | no |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The visit is a self-guided tour; staff and volunteers are on hand to answer questions about the history. |
