Prysten House

Plymouth's finest Tudor property sits tucked away on Finewell Street, and it's properly worth seeking out if you've got an afternoon to kill before hitting Dartmoor. Prysten House is the real deal - a working merchant's home from the 1490s that somehow survived the Blitz and most of Plymouth's architectural vandalism. Walk through those low doorways and you're genuinely stepping into the past, not some theme park version of it.

The rooms are small and intimate, packed with period furnishings that look worn and lived-in rather than museum-pristine. You'll see how Devon's wool traders actually existed - the kitchen with its vast fireplace, the parlour where business happened, the narrow stairs creaking under centuries of footfall. It's the kind of place where a five-minute visit stretches to forty because you keep poking your head into corners.

Families with older children get the most from it - young kids find it cramped and a bit dull, to be honest. History types will absolutely love it; the building itself tells you more than any plaque could. Allow an hour maximum, though you could easily do it in thirty minutes if you're rushed.

If you're based at Dartmoor Domes heading into Plymouth for supplies or a change of pace, this fills a grey afternoon perfectly. It's free entry as far as I can tell, though do ring ahead to check opening times - it's closed unpredictably in winter. Don't expect crowds or fuss. You'll probably be shown round by someone genuinely knowledgeable who actually cares about the place.