Minster Church of St. Andrew

The interior of St. Andrew's hits you immediately - soaring medieval columns, Victorian stained glass, and enough carved stone to keep you occupied for a good hour if you're into that sort of thing. This is Plymouth's cathedral, essentially, a proper working church that's been standing since the 14th century and has somehow survived the Blitz that flattened much of the city around it.

You're looking at one of Devon's finest parish churches, with a nave that feels genuinely spacious and light. The roof is a stunner - all hammer-beam work and intricate carvings. There are bits of medieval wall painting, tombs worth studying, and enough monuments to keep history types properly engaged. It's free to wander in during the day, though the exact opening hours seem to shift, so ringing ahead is sensible.

For families, it's decent for twenty minutes or so, but unless the kids are seriously into old churches, they'll likely get restless. Walkers doing the city centre will find it worth the detour - it's right off the main shopping drag near the Hoe, so no effort to fit it in. History buffs absolutely should make time though; this place is integral to understanding Plymouth's past.

If you're staying at Dartmoor Domes just up the road, it's a straightforward half-hour drive into Plymouth to visit. Not a day-trip destination in itself, but bundled with the Hoe, the Citadel, and the city's Tudor quarter, it completes the picture nicely.