<P> Coordinates: 50 ° 21 ′ 57.82" N 4 ° 8 ′ 2.40" W ﻿ / ﻿ 50.3660611 ° N 4.1340000 ° W ﻿ / 50.3660611; - 4.1340000 </P> <P> The Mayflower Steps are close to the site in the Barbican area of Plymouth, south - west England, from which the Pilgrim Fathers are believed to have finally left England aboard the Mayflower, before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to settle in North America on 6 September 1620 . The traditional site of their disembarkation in North America is Plymouth Rock . </P> <P> The passengers who came predominantly from East Anglia sought religious and other freedoms . They had no links with Plymouth, but because of bad weather in the English Channel they were forced to put in at Plymouth seeking shelter and essential repairs . Several surviving local buildings including what is now the Plymouth Gin Distillery in Southside Street and the Island House on the Quay are claimed to have accommodated some of them for one or more nights . </P>

Who set sail from the mayflower steps in 1620