Introduction to the Box

 The Box was opened in 2020 and is a lovely merging of the old and new.  They provide spaces for permanent exhibitions with Plymouth as the star as well as temporary exhibitions of national standing.  There are also spaces for research.  All exhibitions are free but you may need to book a ticket for exhibitions that are expected to be busy, to reserve your spot.

The original Plymouth Museum and Art Gallery occupied a lovely old building on Drake Circus.  Plymouth Central Library was opened in 1910, but almost immediately, it was too small.  In 1970, the city acquired Luke's Chapel which is just across Tavistock Square and this became an annexe to the Museum.  In 2016 the library moved into a revitalised 70s Building Society building on Mayflower Street.  The original Library and Museum buildings were then redeveloped with the original façade remaining on Drake Circus and a modern extension on the other side on Tavistock Place.  St Luke's also received attention and remains part of the the Box and Tavistock Place became a public square.

On the ground floor you can use the original south entrance, with it's grand staircase, from Drake's Circus or you can use the new entrance from Tavistock Place into the the very modern cafe.  At one end of the building (right from the South Entrance or left from the Main Entrance) you will find the toilets and lockers (£1 non-returnable).  The Cafe is a bright open space which is partially double height. from the cafe there are steps up into the shop.  The Cafe and shop form the main part of the modern extension.  On the first floor, there is mezzanine level above the cafe and shop where the Active Archive is situated and the double height section is home to a display of suspended ships figureheads.

In the cafe there is a small display behind a window and then beyond the shop there are four galleries.  As you walk through the shop, you reach a foyer with another grand staircase up.  Ahead to the left is an entrance to the 100 Journeys Gallery and ahead to the right is the first of the two Port of Plymouth galleries.  You can walk through the first Port of Plymouth, into the second and then in to the 100 Journeys Gallery.  In the Foyer, the entrance to the Mammoth gallery is opposite the 100 Journeys Gallery, adjacent from the shop.  So from the shop, you turn left and then left again.  These are all permanent exhibitions.

On the first floor, the active archives allows you to access information in interactive displays as well as having a number of display spaces with some book shelves as well.  The exhibition spaces then follow the same layout as on the ground floor, with the addition of a small space opposite the staircase, above an old entrance to the museum that is not currently used.  Above the Mammoth gallery, the 100 Journeys gallery and the second Port of Plymouth Gallery, are spaces for temporary exhibitions, as well as the space above the entrance.  The space above the first Port of Tyne Gallery is the Media Lab which houses another permanent exhibition space as well as a space for showing films, often linked to the temporary exhibitions.

You can walk straight through from the South Entrance to the cafe and out the main entrance to the square of Tavistock Place.  If you walk across the square you can go in to St Lukes which is an additional space for temporary exhibitions.

There are also a few other additional spaces in the building.  The Cottonian Research Room is a space for research where you can book a space to access the archives.  The Simmons Learning room is used for schools visits.  The Foulston Room is a space that can only booked by staff at the University of Plymouth.

It is pretty close to the station.  It is a short walk to the North Cross Roundabout and then on the Box at Drake Circus.  To North Cross you can turn right out of the station and then left on to the busy dual carriageway of Saltash Road; or you can turn left and then follow the road round to North Cross.  The difference is not so much distance, but the amount of hill!  Saltash Road is a steady upward incline but the other route takes you up and over the hill, it's steeper up and down but much quieter in terms of traffic.  There are walkways under North Cross Roundabout.  From there you can either continue along the dual carriageway with Cobourg Road or you can cut through the University of Plymouth for a slightly shorter route.  There is then a pelican crossing that takes you across Drake Circus right to the South Entrance.

If you wish to drive there is parking nearby at Drake's Circus but also at Regents Street.  I have not used either as it is an easy train journey and walk to the Box for me.

There is a link to a plan of the Box here.  The Box is open 10,00 until 17.00 Tuesday through to Sunday.  You may wish to check the website though, as it closes early on occasion prior to launching new exhibitions or for private events.  The Box may also be closed around public holidays.