The interactive visitor centre Plymouth Mayflower has opened in Plymouth close to the original ship on which the Pilgrim Fathers set sail in 1620 to discover the New World.

The £2.5m centre is now Plymouth's biggest visitor attraction with a target visitor number of 150,000 in the first year.

Funded by Plymouth City Council (approximately £138,000), the South West Regional Development Agency, the Single Regeneration Budget and European funding, the project took three years to build and will be managed by the team responsible for its neighbour, the National Marine Aquarium.

The centre chronicles the history of Sutton Harbour and the Pilgrim Fathers through a series of hands-on exhibits and displays, including models of the Golden Hind and Mayflower ships, a genealogy touch-screen and boxes containing wool, fish, leather and spices.

Visitors are also offered guided tours and trail routes around Sutton Harbour and the Barbican. Details: +44 (0)1752 306330