Tiny Drake's Island off the coast of Plymouth is up for sale - and it could make the perfect spot for a hotel

Inside a £19,000 'Lion King' safari holiday, with Mount Kilimanjaro as a magical backdrop and a stay at a stunning lodge where the animal cast of the movie roam in spectacular numbers
Gunning for a quirky glamping getaway? Inside the TANK that's been transformed into a cosy lakeside Airbnb with double bed and kitchen
Take that trip! Whatever destination is on your bucket list, NOW is the time to visit with our top tips to make solo travel simple and hassle-free
Revealed: The 'world's strongest beer' is brewed in Scotland, costs £45 a bottle... and left one drinker with a 'numb tongue'. So would YOU try it?
'Greeks are worried that what is special will be lost': Experts ask if Greece needs a new tourism model in the face of climate change and visitor numbers that are set to DOUBLE by 2030
Every cloud has a silver lining! Britain is set for a 'spectacular' autumn with tree colours even MORE glorious than usual thanks to the higher-than-average rainfall this year, experts say
I stayed in a $32,000-a-night suite on the world's most expensive train - so was it really worth it?
The tower that Porsche built: German sports car maker reveals new Bangkok building where residents and their cars will be pampered
Spectacular coastline, cheap wine - and no one will aim a water pistol at you: MARK PALMER reveals how you can't go wrong with a seaside trip to the tourist-friendly Algarve
Falling for the power and glory of Niagara: This wonder of the world is a 'stupendous' sight - don't let it slip off your bucket list
Titanic is COLLAPSING: Shocking before and after photos reveal how a section of the bow has disintegrated - as experts warn the entire ship's demise is 'inevitable'
I stayed in a Wetherspoon hotel in one of the world's prettiest cities - it offers million-dollar cathedral views for just £60 a night
Why tourists are flocking to this little-known Indonesian island instead of Bali: 'The best place on earth'
Discover Thailand: Treat yourself to a journey through lush jungles, vibrant cities, perfect beaches, mouthwatering cuisine and a rich Buddhist culture
Pictured: China's nerve-shredding 'knife-edge' mountain, which daredevil tourists walk along despite sheer drops - and no safety fences
Inside an all-inclusive Marrakech Tui hotel minutes from the Medina with fruit trees and tortoises in the garden (and food that will surprise you)
How thousands of daytrippers arriving on giant cruise ships in search of the perfect Instagram shots are wrecking Italy's most beautiful coastline
British Bearways: Teddy bear left in Heathrow lounge reunited with nine-year-old owner in Dubai by BA crew - who photographed his 'adventure' home
Royal fans divided over Balmoral guided tours after complaining £60 experience was 'disappointing and overrated' - but others describe day trip as 'well worth doing' and 'absolutely stunning'
Michigan sleuth, 70, insists he has discovered 'holy grail' shipwreck from 1679...and claims petty officials won't let him excavate it
Then and now: Fascinating historical photos of Torquay show the Devon seaside town's glory days as the 'Queen of the English Riviera' - and its present-day look
Plane passenger sitting in window seat is left outraged after man beside her reaches across to take photos of view - but do YOU think it's acceptable?
Ryanair finally sets its sights on package holidays as budget airline battles to attract more tourists
Inside America's most famous posh restaurant: Rare footage reveals what it's like to have an $830 meal at the 3-Michelin-starred French Laundry (and what its $160 mac and cheese tastes like)

Drake's Island covers just 6.5 acres and lies 600 yards off the Plymouth coast
Once a prison, the island has planning permission for a 43-room hotel
READ MORE: France's tourist-free hidden gems to escape the Olympic crowds

Published: 06:53 EDT, 18 July 2024 | Updated: 11:53 EDT, 18 July 2024

e-mail

175

View
comments

A historic island off the coast of Plymouth has gone up for sale - just five years after it was purchased for £6million.

Drake’s Island, named after the explorer Francis Drake, covers just 6.5 acres and lies 600 yards off the Plymouth coast.

The tiny fortified island has planning permission for a 43-bed hotel and it’s currently listed for sale with property marketer Carter Jonas. Ali Rana, partner at the firm, says it offers an 'extraordinary opportunity to potential buyers' while the 'heritage and beauty' of the island make it 'well-suited for a best-in-class development'.

The island’s current owner is Morgan Philips, a local Plymouth businessman. He had plans to build two hotels, a museum and a wellbeing centre on Drake’s Island but is now looking for someone to 'take over and bring these dreams to life more quickly'.

Mr Philips says: 'I hope to pass on the baton to someone passionate about the island’s surroundings and can realise its potential.'

Drake's Island (above), 600 yards off the coast of Plymouth, is up for sale. Planning permission for a 43-bed hotel is in place

The current owner of Drake's Island is Morgan Philips, a local Plymouth businessman. He had plans to build two hotels, a museum and wellbeing centre on the Island but is now looking for someone to 'take over and bring these dreams to life more quickly'

Meet the man who stays in Britain's worst-rated hotels - so you don't have to

Drake’s Island has a rich history and was used as a prison by King Charles II in the 1600s and by the military in the 1900s. The island then became an adventure centre in the 1960s and a young JFK Jr learned to sail there on the Plymouth Sound.

After decades of closure, Mr Philips reopened the island to the public and visitors now have the chance to explore Drake’s history on a two-hour guided tour.

Drake’s Island website says visitors will ‘view Plymouth and Cornwall from a whole new perspective as you climb to the highest part of the island, the perfect photo opportunity!’

The island team also offers a quirky ‘spirit experience’ where tourists can ‘hear stories of the Island's notorious past inhabitants, recent sightings and unexplained occurrences’ with a certified ‘spirit guide’.

Under a ‘future plans’ section on the island website a proposal for a 'welcoming small hotel' in the old Governor's barracks is revealed, with the site adding that it would be ‘more budget than bling’.

Carter Jonas says: 'The island has more than 30,000 sq ft of disused accommodation, much of which highlights its historic importance.

'Drake's Island is allocated for heritage-led regeneration, with plans for a new hotel and associated visitor facilities, as well as marine/natural environment-related research and development. The island benefits from existing planning consent for redevelopment for hotel use, including the conversion of historic buildings, refurbishment of the jetty, and infrastructure works.'

Drake’s Island, named after the explorer Francis Drake, covers just 6.5 acres. This is a view of the island from Mount Edgcumbe Folly (foreground), across the way from Plymouth in Cornwall