Darwin Forest Lodges - Fun Days Out

Gulliver's Kingdom is a theme park in Matlock Bath, aimed at children aged 3-13. It sits on a hillside on the edge of the Peak District National Park, so many of the rides come with views over the Derwent Valley. The Crows Nest Quest is there to climb, and the log flume runs high above the valley.

The park began in 1978 as a model village and grew from there. Its main rollercoaster is named after the Victorian Switchback ride that once stood nearby. There are rides built with younger thrill-seekers in mind, so it suits families with little ones who want a full day of rides rather than anything too extreme.

Tip: Leaving the car behind? Matlock Bath station is a 10-15 minute walk away, and a valid public transport ticket can bring a discount on entry.

Alton Towers is one of the UK's largest and most popular theme parks, set in over 500 acres of Staffordshire countryside. The rides range from big rollercoasters such as Wicker Man, Nemesis Reborn, The Smiler and Oblivion to gentler family rides, and there are over 40 rides and attractions in all. There's also a waterpark, mini golf and landscaped gardens.

It suits thrill-seekers and families alike. Younger children can head to CBeebies Land, while older ones can take on the headline coasters. History fans can wander the original gothic-style Towers, which date from the estate's days as a stately home. Most visitors spend a full day here, and it's busiest at weekends and school holidays.

Tip: Pre-book your ticket online before you go, as everyone needs one and sold-out dates can't be bought on the day.

Chatsworth is a Grade I listed stately home in the Derbyshire Dales, home to the Devonshire family for 17 generations. Inside, over 25 rooms show art and artefacts spanning 4,000 years, including the Painted Hall, the State Rooms and the Sculpture Gallery. Some rooms close for annual conservation, so not every one is always open.

Outside, the 105-acre garden has an arboretum, a rock garden, fountains, sculptures and both historic and modern waterworks. The farmyard has been a favourite with children since 1973, with animals such as Eugenie the Suffolk Punch mare and the pygmy goats Itsy and Bitsy. A secret tunnel leads to a woodland playground with towers, slides, swings, and sand and water play. There are restaurants and shops on the estate too, so you can easily fill a full day.

Tip: Book online in advance for free parking. Prams and rucksack-style baby carriers aren't allowed in the house, but there is left luggage near the entrance.

Cromford Mills is where Richard Arkwright developed the world's first water-powered cotton spinning mill in 1771. The Grade I listed site is the centrepiece of the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is a multi-use visitor centre with shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes.

Arkwright chose Cromford for its year-round water supply from Cromford Sough and Bonsall Brook. He ran the mills day and night and built housing for his workers nearby, with shops, pubs, chapels and a school. Stuart Fisher describes this housing as "the first factory housing development in the world". The Arkwright Society owns the complex and is restoring it. The nearby Cromford Canal towpath runs to High Peak Junction and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Haddon Hall is an English country house on the River Wye near Bakewell in Derbyshire, and a former seat of the Dukes of Rutland. Its origins go back to the 11th century, with major building carried out between the 13th and 16th centuries. It has been described as "the most complete and most interesting house of [its] period".

Inside, you can see the banqueting hall with its minstrels' gallery, the kitchens and parlour dating from 1370, the Long Gallery and St Nicholas Chapel, where pre-Reformation frescoes were long hidden under whitewash. Outside, the walled topiary garden has clipped heraldic boar's head and peacock shapes. The house is also tied to a 19th-century legend that Dorothy Vernon eloped with John Manners during a ball in 1563, a story that has inspired novels and dramatisations. The house and its gardens are both Grade I listed.

The National Tramway Museum in Crich is an open-air museum with a working tramway. Its collection of trams is officially designated as nationally important. Vintage trams run along a recreated period street, complete with a pub, shops and a sweetshop, then head out into open countryside with views over the Derwent Valley. Tram rides are included in the ticket.

Indoors, the exhibition hall traces the story of horse, steam and electric trams, and there is a workshop viewing gallery, tram depots and the George Stephenson Discovery Centre. Outside, you can stretch your legs on the woodland walk and sculpture trail, or use the picnic areas. There are indoor and outdoor play areas for children. Dogs on leads are welcome across most of the site, including indoor exhibitions and on the trams.

Tip: Book online at least 24 hours ahead for a slightly lower price, though you can also pay on arrival.

Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan country house built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, once the richest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth I. It is famous for its enormous windows, which gave rise to the saying "Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall". Inside, a wide stone staircase leads up to the state rooms, including one of the largest long galleries in any English house, and a tapestry-hung great chamber with a plaster frieze of hunting scenes.

Outside, there are formal gardens with a herbaceous border, the ruined Old Hall beside the house, and a 2,500 acre estate of meadows, woodland and ponds to walk through. There is a restaurant, shop, plant shop and second-hand bookshop in the grounds. History fans will enjoy it most, and families can follow seasonal trails and adventure in the parkland. Gardeners and walkers are well catered for too.

Tip: No advance booking is needed, and parking is included with a ticket. Set your sat nav to S44 5RW to reach the correct entrance.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a zoo and conservation centre on the outskirts of Doncaster, South Yorkshire. You explore on foot, with three walk-through animal reserves and themed lands that recreate habitats from around the world. Highlights include Project Polar with its polar bears, Land of the Tigers with a raised walkway, Lion Country, Lemur Woods and the African Plains, where giraffes and zebras share a large paddock.

There are ranger talks and live shows, a dinosaur-themed Pangea area and six indoor and outdoor play areas, so younger visitors have plenty to do. Next to the entrance, The Yorkshire Hive has shops and places to eat, plus Planet Putt, an indoor adventure golf course that is handy if the weather turns. Families and animal lovers will get the most from a visit.

Tip: Booking tickets in advance is cheaper than buying on the day, and Planet Putt next to the entrance is a good wet-weather add-on.