3-Bedroom Hot Tub Lodge in Shabbington - 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.

The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683 and widely described as Britain's first public museum. Its collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time. Highlights include the Egypt and Nubia galleries and the Chinese Picture Gallery, the only museum gallery in Britain devoted to Chinese paintings.

Allow time to wander floor by floor, using the interactive floor guide or one of the gallery trails to shape your visit. There is a café, a shop and a Rooftop Restaurant for lunch or afternoon tea. It suits curious families, couples and anyone who enjoys history and art, and it works well as a rainy-day option.

Tip: Groups must book ahead, and booking is strongly recommended for the major ticketed exhibition.

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.

Blenheim Palace is one of England's largest houses, found in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Designed in the rare English Baroque style, it was a reward to the 1st Duke of Marlborough for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim, which gave the palace its name.

It is still a family home, as well as a mausoleum and national monument. You can explore the grand interiors, then head out to the park and gardens, which members of the Churchill family reshaped over the generations. The land was once a royal deer park, and the spring where Henry II's mistress, Fair Rosamund, is said to have bathed still remains. The story of how the palace was built is full of politics and controversy too.

Tip: Look out for Fair Rosamund's spring, which survives from the old royal deer park at Woodstock.

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.