Crowne Plaza Plymouth by IHG

Crowne Plaza Plymouth by IHG is a tower hotel on Armada Way, a short walk from Plymouth Hoe, with around 211 rooms split between standard and premium options, each with air conditioning and a seating area.

A 15-metre indoor heated pool and a gym occupy the lower floors; because no lifeguard is on duty, children under 16 need one-to-two adult supervision in the water. Marco Pierre White's Steakhouse Bar & Grill sits on the 11th floor for more formal dining, with the more relaxed Drake's Bar & Lounge on a lower floor for casual food and drinks.

The hotel runs meeting rooms for up to 500 delegates, reflecting its lean toward conferences and business trade over leisure breaks. The National Marine Aquarium is 0.6 miles away, Smeaton's Tower on the Hoe is 0.2 miles, and the South West Coast Path passes within 0.2 miles of the front door; Plymouth city centre and the Barbican's harbourside bars and restaurants are a similarly short walk. Plymouth's mainline station runs direct trains to Exeter, Bristol and London, and Exeter Airport is around an hour's drive.

**Best for:** Business travellers and conference groups who want a pool and gym on site, within a short walk of Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican.

**Less good for:** Guests wanting a quiet, boutique feel - the hotel runs meeting rooms for up to 500 delegates, and the tower-block scale suits conferences and business stays over a leisure escape.