Apple Mount Retreat - Fun Days Out

Colchester Zoo has been open since 1963 and is home to many rare and endangered species, including big cats, primates, birds, invertebrates and fish. The animals are arranged in themed zones, so you move from one habitat to the next as you explore.

Highlights include Elephant Kingdom, where a herd of African bush elephants has a pool and waterfall, and Kingdom of the Wild, a savannah-style habitat with giraffes, white rhinos and zebras. You can also see Komodo dragons, Humboldt penguins, cheetahs and Malayan sun bears. Australian Rainbows has a walk-through aviary where you can feed nectar to free-flying lorikeets, and there are walk-through areas with iguanas and farm animals.

The zoo describes itself as a full day out and says you may need to visit twice to see everything.

Tip: Arrive close to opening, and book e-tickets online at least 24 hours ahead to get the cheaper rate. If you arrive after midday, visit Kingdom of the Wild and Elephant Kingdom first, as they close an hour early.

Gainsborough's House is the birthplace of the English painter Thomas Gainsborough, in the Suffolk town of Sudbury. It is now a museum and gallery in a Grade I listed building, parts of which date back to around 1500. It is described as the National Centre for Gainsborough, with a large collection of his oil paintings, works on paper and artefacts on permanent display.

Alongside the permanent collection, the museum runs changing exhibitions. Its Cedric Morris Room is also open to visitors, and the House holds events such as drawing sessions and life drawing days. Exhibitions are updated regularly, so check the website to see what is showing before you go. It is a good fit for anyone interested in Gainsborough, art or the history of an old house.

Tip: Check the website's exhibitions and events pages before you go to see what is on during your visit.

Hedingham Castle sits on a hill above the village of Castle Hedingham in Essex. Its Norman keep was built around 1140 by the de Vere family, later Earls of Oxford, and is widely described as the best preserved of its kind in England. The estate is still a family home, owned by their descendants, the Lindsays.

You explore the keep, which has five floors, including the Great Hall with its large fireplace, and the Royal Chamber at the top. Outside are landscaped gardens and medieval parkland with a red-brick bridge, plus secret spaces to wander through. The castle also hosts events such as jousting, living history, vintage car shows, theatre and outdoor cinema. The Keep Tearoom serves hot and cold drinks and light snacks, with seating indoors or takeaway.

Access to the keep involves steep stairs, so it is unsuitable for prams and wheelchairs, though the grounds have easy, accessible walks.

Tip: Check the events calendar and book tickets online in advance before you go.

Banham Zoo is a 50-acre zoo in Norfolk, run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia, a registered charity. It opened to the public in 1968 and is the largest zoo in the region. Animals include giraffes, snow leopards, Amur tigers, cheetahs, red pandas, meerkats and California sea lions, along with a well-regarded collection of smaller monkeys.

The day mixes animal encounters with daily talks, live shows, outdoor play areas and seasonal events. There are animal experiences, including hand-feeding giraffes, and a Bird Garden reached by a short walk along a meandering path. Families will find plenty to fill a day, and the activities are designed for all ages. Money from tickets also supports the zoo's conservation work.

Tip: Check the website's what's on page before you go, as daily talks and seasonal events change, and you can book tickets online in advance.

Ely Cathedral stands above the flat Fenland landscape, which is why locals call it "the ship of the Fens". The earliest parts of the present building date to 1083, and it is one of the largest Norman churches built in its day. Its nave is among the longest in Britain, and the central Octagon, with its lantern above, creates a remarkable space inside.

Visitors can wander the ground floor with a free in-person tour or multi-media guide, subject to availability. Extra tours include the Octagon Tower, completed in 1342 and described as one of the wonders of medieval engineering. The West Tower Experience means climbing 288 steps for 360-degree views over the city and beyond. The Stained Glass Museum is housed upstairs, and the Almonry Kitchen offers afternoon tea.

Tip: Book tickets and tours in advance, as tour places are limited, and check opening times first because it is a busy working cathedral.

The Food Museum in Stowmarket tells the story of how food is grown, made and eaten. It covers 84 acres of Suffolk countryside with 17 historic buildings and close to 40,000 objects, from wartime ration recipes to a full-size steam-powered mill engine. The museum is large, and most people take all day to see it.

Highlights include the Queen Anne house of Abbot's Hall and its Walled Garden, the Mortlock Building with its steam engines, Alton Watermill and Eastbridge Windpump, and a mile of river trails. The farm area has rare breeds such as Suffolk Sheep, Red Poll cattle and Suffolk Punch horses, plus hens, turkeys and pigs. There are daily talks, tours and hands-on farming or foraging activities. Children can use the play area with its zip wire, swings and slides. Feast Cafe serves homemade meals.

Tip: Pick up a daily menu from the museum shop to see the talks, tours and demonstrations on during your visit.

Christchurch Mansion is a Tudor house in Christchurch Park, close to Ipswich town centre. Built on the site of a medieval priory, it has over 500 years of history. You can wander through period rooms, from the Tudor kitchen and the Georgian saloon to the Victorian wing, and imagine how owners and servants once lived.

The art is a big draw, with the largest collection of Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable paintings outside London. You will also find musical instruments, toys and glassware. There is a museum shop and a tea room that can be reached from the park. History fans, art lovers and families will all find plenty to enjoy, and the '50 Ways to Play' challenge sheet gives children ideas for the house and park.

Tip: Download the free Bloomberg Connects guide before you go, as the Mansion has no Wi-Fi, and note there is no parking at the museum.

IWM Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum, set on the historic Duxford Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire. The site began as a Royal Flying Corps training aerodrome, played a prominent part in the Battle of Britain, and stayed an active RAF airfield until 1961. Many of the original buildings, including hangars used during the Battle of Britain, are still in use, and over thirty are listed.

Today it houses aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and small naval vessels across several exhibition buildings. These include the Stirling Prize-winning American Air Museum, designed by Sir Norman Foster. The site is still an active airfield used by civilian flying companies, and it hosts regular air shows. It also holds the Airborne Assault and Royal Anglian Regiment museums, so there is plenty of military history beyond the aircraft themselves.

Tip: Check the IWM Duxford website before you go for air shows and special events, as the site hosts them regularly.