Only the smaller ships can make it up the river to the Pool of London, tying up next to HMS Belfast, with glorious views to the north of the Tower of London, and to the south of the modern City Hall. As you sail from here, the bridge opens, stopping the traffic for your departure.

Perfectly located on a magnificent harbour on the south coast of England, Portsmouth boasts a rich maritime and naval heritage. In addition, it has a glorious sea front, and theatres, art galleries, cathedrals and museums.

Caen was founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, and the beautiful Abbaye aux Hommes is his last resting place, though only a thigh bone remains. Caen was heavily damaged during the Second World War, and there are several D-Day sites nearby; learn more at the city's excellent Memorial Museum.

Saint-Malo grew rich off the back of maritime trade and its plundering corsairs, a seafaring heritage that is still proudly on display today. It’s great fun getting lost in the streets of the walled old town, and the famous medieval abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is an easy day-trip.

The island of Guernsey draws visitors south from the British mainland with its more favourable climate and beautiful coastline. The capital, St Peter Port, is a lovely little town of cobbled streets and elegant architecture, and there are also several interesting museums dedicated to the island’s occupation by the Nazis during the Second World War.

Situated on the southern bank of the Seine estuary, Honfleur was once one of France’s most important ports. It was also a favourite location of Monet and the Impressionists, and art lovers may well recognise the elegant Renaissance architecture of the old harbour, the Vieux Bassin.