6-Bedroom Hot Tub House in Beaconsfield - Fun Days Out

Bekonscot in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, is a model village built at one inch to one foot and opened to the public in 1929. It is commonly described as the oldest surviving model village in the UK. Its miniature villages capture rural English life in the 1930s, with a cathedral, castle, airport, zoo and cricket match, plus shops with punning names such as Miss A. Stitch the dressmaker. A gauge 1 model railway links the villages, and gardens surround the models.

You can walk round at your own pace, looking down on the scenes from different viewpoints. There is also a 7¼ inch gauge ride-on railway, self-drive boats, a children's play area and a tearoom. Families, model railway fans and anyone who enjoys fine detail will get the most from it. Reviewers say it still works well on a wet day.

Tip: Head for the ride-on miniature railway and look out for the punning shop names as you go round.

Thorpe Park sits between Chertsey and Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, on the site of old flooded gravel pits that give it a watery setting. It opened in 1979 and is run by Merlin Entertainments. Today it's a full day of rides, with a strong line-up of roller coasters.

Big names include Hyperia, Stealth, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno and SAW – The Ride. If you'd rather get wet, there are water rides such as Tidal Wave, Depth Charge and Storm Surge. The park also has gentler rides for those who prefer to laugh rather than scream. Older visitors may like the history too: Flying Fish began life as Space Station Zero, the park's first coaster. Coaster fans, families and groups of friends will all find rides to suit them.

Tip: Book your tickets online in advance to guarantee entry.

Legoland Windsor is a LEGO-themed theme park and resort in Windsor, Berkshire, on the site of the former Windsor Safari Park. It has more than 55 rides and attractions across 11 themed lands, plus live shows, building workshops and the Miniland models. It is the most visited theme park in the UK.

Younger children are the main audience. They can earn a driving licence at the LEGO City Driving School, ride the Dragon Coaster through a medieval castle, or explore a lost underwater city in a submarine. Older kids and LEGO fans can head for Flight of the Sky Lion, a flying theatre ride, or the Minifigure Speedway dueling rollercoaster. There is also an indoor LEGO-themed Adventure Golf course, and the BIG Shop is the UK's largest LEGO store. Children under 90cm go free.

Tip: Book your tickets in advance to guarantee entry, and pre-book parking to save time on the day.

Windsor Castle is a royal residence in Berkshire, founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Royal Collection Trust describes it as the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and it has been home to 40 monarchs. The grounds cover 13 acres and combine a fortress, a palace and a small town.

Highlights include the State Apartments, the Semi-State Rooms, Queen Mary's Dolls' House and the 15th-century St George's Chapel, where ten kings are buried, including Henry VIII and Charles I. You can also see the Round Tower on its man-made mound and the castle precincts. Changing the Guard is among the listed highlights. For children, there are free activity trails for ages 7 to 11 and a family multimedia guide with Scorch the dragon. The Undercroft Café, one of the oldest surviving spaces in the castle, is there for a tea and cake break.

Tip: The castle sits at the top of a steep hill and much of the site is outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes and allow for long walking distances.

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo, on the northern edge of Regent's Park, with the Regent's Canal running through it. It is run by ZSL, a conservation charity, and its animals range from tiny leafcutter ants to a giant silverback gorilla.

You can travel from the rainforests of South America to a monkey-filled jungle of Central Africa, and visit areas such as Penguin Beach, Tiger Territory and Monkey Valley along the way. Daily animal talks explain more about endangered species and how they are being protected. It suits families with children, and anyone curious about the history of the zoo will find plenty to spot.

Tip: Check the daily animal talks when you arrive and plan your route around the ones you want to catch.

Whipsnade Zoo is the UK's largest zoo, run by the Zoological Society of London, a conservation charity. It covers 600 acres on the Dunstable Downs, and you can walk between the enclosures or drive your own car around. Look out for the huge White Lion carved into the hillside.

Highlights include Passage Through Asia, a paddock with no boundaries between you and the camels, deer and yaks, which you reach by car or on the Jumbo Express train. You can also walk through the lemur enclosure, wander among the butterflies in the Butterfly House, see the pride of lions, and follow the 2 km Monkey Forest walk. The Great Whipsnade Railway is a 2 ft 6 in narrow-gauge line that runs through the park.

Tip: Book tickets online in advance, as the zoo says its best prices are always online. Last entry is one hour before closing.

The British Museum in Bloomsbury, London, is a public museum of human history, art and culture. Founded in 1753, it was the world's first public national museum, and it opened its doors in 1759. Its permanent collection is the largest in the world and follows the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.

Inside, you can see some of its best-known objects, including the Rosetta Stone from Egypt and the Greek Elgin Marbles. The building also has the Great Court, part of its architecture and worth a look as you pass through. Like all UK national museums, it charges no admission fee except for loan exhibitions. It suits anyone curious about the ancient world and world cultures, and with so much on show you can pick a few galleries rather than try to see everything.