Ever since boyhood I have always liked maritime cities. I guess the open sea beckons for people like me who suffer from wanderlust. This is why I like Plymouth in South West England very much. It is not a city I know exceptionally well but I have visited it on three separate occasions and liked what I saw.
Plymouth is a nice mixture of modernity and old world charm. Thanks to the German Air Force during World War II much of the city centre had to rebuilt and it is a modern, pedestrianised area full of well known shops including the likes of Woolworths, Boots , Topshop, Argos, Virgin and specialist shops. There are plenty of street cafes, children’s play areas, a goodly array of seats for weary shoppers, fast food outlets , verdant floral displays and befitting a waterfront city, water features.
Accommodation in this city includes a number of good 3 and 4 star hotels, cosy, guest houses and very welcoming and comfortable bed and breakfast establishments. The dining out scene in Plymouth is good-apart from the usual fast food joints such as Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonalds and Burger King, there are old English tea rooms, pubs serving up reasonably priced bar food , English cafes and a goodly array of ethnic eateries, as one would expect in a cosmopolitan maritime city.
Plymouth does not disappoint as regards sports and entertainment. Nationwide soccer is played at Home Park where you can watch Plymouth Argyle, who were founded in 1886, play and the Theatre Royal is among the finest provincial theatres in England. Plymouth Pavillions is the major regional venue for both classical and pop music, top comedians and other forms of live entertainment. A recent attraction which I have yet to visit is the National Maritime Aquarium, I have heard good reports about it.
A must see spot is Plymouth Hoe. This is where Sir Francis Drake played his famous game of lawn bowls. This area is full of historical associations and shaped the lives of the Pilgrim Fathers and countless more who sailed the seven seas from Plymouth. You could climb up the best known landmark in the city- Smeatons Tower Lighthouse- and take in some panoramic, breathtaking views over Plymouth Sound.
The quaint , narrow, streets of the Barbican are well worth exploring with all their very cute shops and attractive, warm and inviting hostelries. The Barbican, it should be added, is also a real haven for art lovers and houses a number of attractive art galleries stocking the works of local artists. It is well worth setting aside some time to dwell in this picturesque part of Plymouth.
Plymouth is the gateway to the lovely county of Cornwall and is also a good base if you want to explore untamed Dartmoor and the mellow coast of South Devon. The surrounding countryside is exceptionally beautiful and well worth visiting. Try and check Plymouth out, I do not think you will regret visiting this fine, maritime.city!