Eddystone Lighthouse

Eddystone Lighthouse sits on the Eddystone Rocks, a reef about 14 miles out to sea from Rame Head, off Plymouth on the Devon and Cornwall coast of England. The tower you see today is the fourth to stand there, and it still works as a navigation light on one of the most hazardous stretches of the English Channel.

Why were four towers built on one reef?

The rocks lie barely below the surface on the approach to Plymouth, and Atlantic swell hammers them constantly. Storms and fire took out the early structures, so each new tower was a response to the failures of the one before.

What were the four towers?

• Winstanley's tower. Henry Winstanley built the first one, a wooden structure first lit on 14 November 1698. A storm destroyed it in 1703, and its builder died in the collapse.
• Rudyerd's tower. John Rudyerd raised the second, also timber, completed around 1709. A fire that began in the lantern consumed it in 1755.
• Smeaton's tower. Engineer John Smeaton designed the third in stone. Its profile and interlocking blocks shaped lighthouse design well beyond Devon, and it marks an important step in the use of concrete in construction.
• Douglass's tower. James Douglass designed the current lighthouse, drawing on Smeaton's methods as developed by Robert Stevenson. It was first lit in 1882.

Who runs it today?

Trinity House, the UK's lighthouse authority, operates the light. It was automated in 1982, the first Trinity House lighthouse converted to unmanned operation. Visitors cannot land on the reef, but on a clear day the tower is visible from the shore.

What can you see in Plymouth?

After the new lighthouse replaced it, the stone part of Smeaton's tower was taken down and rebuilt on Plymouth Hoe, where it now serves as a memorial and visitor attraction. It is the best place to learn about Eddystone up close.

• The climb is around 93 steps with steep ladders and low ceilings, so access for visitors with limited mobility is very restricted.
• From the top, on a clear day, you can pick out the present Eddystone lighthouse on the horizon.
• Recent listings give adult entry at about £8 (£7 booked online), with last entry at 4.30pm.

When should you visit?

Smeaton's Tower opens seasonally. In autumn 2026 it is open on weekends until 25 October, then Tuesday to Sunday from 27 October to 1 November, and closed after that. In the main season, hours are typically 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Check the current schedule with The Box Plymouth before you go. Calm, clear days give the best view of the horizon.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the lighthouse on the reef itself? No. It is an automated working aid to navigation run by Trinity House. Visitors view it from afar or tour the rebuilt Smeaton's Tower in Plymouth.

Which tower is on the rocks now? The fourth, designed by James Douglass and first lit in 1882.

Where is Smeaton's Tower? On Plymouth Hoe in the city of Plymouth, where it was re-erected after the new lighthouse took over.

Is the lighthouse staffed? No. It has operated automatically since 1982.