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The best things to do at Drake Circus and The Barcode for a day out

Looking for fun things to do near Plymouth? Drake Circus and The Barcode are the places to enjoy inspired days out with your family and friends.

From big movies at Cineworld, karaoke, shuffleboard and kids’ parties at Boom Battle Bar and mini golf at Paradise Island Adventure Golf to incredible family dining at The Barcode, the latest store openings and easy parking and excellent public transport, you can enjoy a full day full of activities and fun (see our opening times here).

Plan your day with our helpful guide.

1. See big new movies at Cineworld

Cineworld offers a whole host of special discounts including unlimited films for £10.99 a month (with 25% off at Barcode restaurants including Las Iguanas and YO!), family tickets, weekly Movies for Juniors for £2.50 a ticket, family special snacks with 30% off and dimmed-light Cinebabies screenings for parents and carers.

If you buy any products from Compare the Market, you can also enjoy Meerkat Movies for a whole year with 2-for-1 tickets every Tuesday and Wednesday.

2. The best places to eat with family menus and offers for kids

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The Barcode is home to some of the most children-friendly places to eat on the planet. Discover brilliant discounted children’s menus all year round at Brewdog, Nando’s, Cosy Club, Zizzi and YO! During the holidays, kids can eat for free or for just £1 at leading cafes and restaurants so keep an eye on our offers page.

Also don’t miss some of our exciting new arrivals: Slim Chickens brings the Southern tenders, wings and shakes with a special £5 menu for kids while the newly arrived Kaspa’s Desserts is sweet-tooth heaven with gelatos, waffles, crepes, milkshakes, smoothies and sundaes and a kids’ menu.

Keep an eye on the best and latest offers here. 

3. Book fun days out

Boom Battle Bar games, karaoke and food

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Open to under-18s until 7pm, Boom Battle Bar is the ideal place for a fun day out of games, food and drink. Offering VR axe throwing and darts, shuffleboard, karaoke booths and pool tables and Boom Bites menus of fries, wings and nachos, plan your day out now. You can also book kids’ parties for 11+ with a free round of soft drinks and two games.

Book here

Paradise Island Adventure Golf

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With special offers for families of four from £32, Paradise Island Adventure Golf has two 18-hole adventure courses with treacherous swamps and jungles. Carers can go free, there are special discounts for emergency services and military personnel, 20% off for Plymouth Argyle FC season ticket holders and special Eat & Play for kids (£12.50 5pm-8pm Monday to Sunday) deals. Unmissable fun!

Book here

Brewdog

Brewdog is utterly family-friendly (until 8pm) with local pop-up markets every month, special activities for kids during the holidays (follow them on Instagram for the latest news), puppy play dates, kids menus with their famous Hoppy Meals and a welcoming patio when the sun is shining.
Book here

4. Discover new places to shop with our latest store openings

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Drake Circus is home to some of the best fashion, beauty, food, tech and gifting stores making Click & Collect and everyday shopping easy. There are also plenty of clothes and shoes stores for kids including H&M, JD Sports, Marks & Spencer, River island, Next and Primark if you need to pick things up while you’re here with the family.

Be the first to discover the new Levi’s store (the first standalone in Plymouth) and explore the brand’s iconic denim, jeans and accessories. Stay up to date with the latest news and offers here. Happy shopping!

5. Easy parking and the best ways to get to Drake Circus and The Barcode by bus, train or bike

It’s super easy for families to get here. If you’re travelling by train, we’re just under 15 minutes’ walk from Plymouth train station and, if you prefer to drive, then we have more than 2,000 spaces at our car parks. There are designated children-and-parent and disabled spaces plus six electric charging points at The Barcode and six at Drake Circus. Download the Glide Parking app to pay quickly and easily.

Cycling? Take advantage of our bike racks available on Cornwall Street outside the Marks & Spencer food court entrance or at Level -2 of The Barcode in the lift lobby.

6. Family-friendly essentials at Drake Circus and The Barcode

We have lots of baby-feeding friendly spaces in our cafes and restaurants and you can find baby-changing facilities inside the toilets on the Lower Mall and The Barcode. Also, please check with individual restaurants and cafes who may be able to offer bottle-warming facilities for you.

Don’t miss our kid-friendly stores: The Entertainer and Tiger are full of exciting toys and gifts for all budgets. Or, have a fun time finding bedtime reading at Waterstones.

7. Special offers, discounts and insider tips

Keep an eye on our offers page for the latest deals, menus and ways to shop and enjoy delicious food and drink all year round.

Don’t forget there are always exclusive discounts for students, Blue Light and Cruise card holders, military personnel and NHS workers plus there are plenty of loyalty memberships to take advantage of.

Be in the know about the latest openings, exclusive offers and special deals and news by signing up to our newsletter here. 

Last updated Thursday 7 September, 2023