There is a wealth of things to do in the city. Re-designed in the 1950s by Abercrombie, there is still evidence of the blitz in the bombed-out church at Charles Cross. Aside from the shops, you can spend a morning wandering the Barbican, the old commercial port with warehouses converted to art galleries, bars, cafes and stores, with the harbour now a marina. The Mayflower Steps, from which the Pilgrim Fathers departed for America, is also here.

Plymouth Gin Distillery - in the Barbican was founded in 1793, the oldest distillery in England. Guided tours are conducted daily. The China House, an old china warehouse, offers good bar food, with plenty of parking. The Pavilions have an ice rink and swimming pool, as well as hosting pop concerts in the evening. There is ten-pin bowling at the Megabowl, which is next to the multi screen cinema complex. The National Marine Aquarium has the deepest tank in Europe (but the seven year-old daughter of friends was not impressed by this. She preferred the little aquarium in Fowey!).

The Theatre Royal has a regularly changing programme often on pre-London tour. On the river, there are Warship and Dockyard Tours to see the Tamar and Devonport Naval Base from a pleasure boat. On the edge of Plymouth is Crown Hill Fort, one of Palmerston’s follies. Re-enactment and living history are on show there.