Perched on the border between Devon and Cornwall, Plymouth has played a part in some momentous maritime events. The southwest's second largest city was where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail in 1620 in search of the 'New World', where Captain Cook departed on the HMS Endeavour before discovering Australia and where Sir Francis Drake left to fight the Spanish Armada in 1588, though not before squeezing in a game of bowls.
While the city is a compact paradise for seafaring followers, dynamic Plymouth also has a modern pedestrianised city centre affording excellent shopping and the Elizabethan Barbican, a mecca for art lovers that transforms into a nightlife hub when the sun goes down. Plymouth's coastal location also means that there is plenty of dramatic landscape to roam around, with the fine Dartmoor National Park only a stone’s throw away.
- Follow Plymouth's maritime trail: Stroll to Plymouth Hoe to see the statue of Sir Francis Drake where he played a game of bowls before defeating the Armada and spot the plaque commemorating Cook's Endeavour voyage at 58 Notte Street.