The Mayflower Steps

The Mayflower Steps sit right on Plymouth's waterfront, a modest stone staircase leading down to the water where the Mayflower's passengers are said to have embarked in 1620. It's not dramatic or grand - just a few worn steps and a plaque - but stand there and you're looking at the actual spot where history got on a boat.

Walks along the Hoe are the real draw here. The steps themselves take five minutes, honestly. You're better off using them as a starting point for the wider waterfront - the citadel, the naval connections, the sea views that made Plymouth strategically important. It's proper fascinating if you care about Britain's maritime past, less so if you expect a visitor centre or exhibition.

Families with older kids who've studied the Mayflower will find it meaningful. Younger ones might struggle to connect the dots without some explanation. Free to visit, naturally.

Dartmoor Domes sits about six miles inland, so you could easily combine a coastal morning in Plymouth with a night under their geodesic domes. The contrast between the waterfront history and the moorland calm works well. Go when the weather's clear enough for decent views across the Sound - winter storms are dramatic but can obscure what you're looking at. Early morning beats the afternoon crowds around the Hoe.