The Barbican is Plymouth's old harbour area and one of the few parts of the original city to escape the bombs of the Luftwaffe during the Second World War. The Barbican manages to retain much of the architecture and charm of a old fishing town and port.
A vibrant and interesting area, originally home to Plymouth's fish market (now relocated to the other side of the harbour) and still home to many fishermen, The Barbican contains all manner of shops and businesses - including sweet shops, art galleries, the Barbican Theatre, some eclectic bars, the Plymouth Gin Distillery the Dolphin public house and a gypsy fortune teller named Acora. The Barbican is also home to the famous Cap'n Jaspers burger bar.
Other places of interest include the Barbican Glassworks, where skilled glassblowers can be seen practising their craft; the National Marine Aquarium , the largest aquarium in Britain, which boasts one of the deepest tanks in Europe; the Elizabethan House, an old house now used as a museum, which dates back to the early 16th century; the Mayflower Steps from where the Pilgrims set off in the Mayflower for the New World in 1620, which is commemorated in the nearby visitors' centre; and the gallery and studio of the late artist Robert Lenkiewicz, who lived and worked on the Barbican for many years, and derived much of his inspiration from the local people.
