Ladera Retreat Lodges - Fun Days Out

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.

Gulliver's World is a theme park in Warrington, loosely based on the world of Lilliput from Gulliver's Travels. It is split into themed areas including Western World, Safari Kingdom, Land of Oz, Smuggler's Wharf and Lost World. Rides such as The Antelope, Desperado Drop and Apache Falls sit alongside play areas, both indoors and outdoors, designed for children between 2 and 13.

Beyond the main park, Blast Arena is an indoor NERF attraction for children aged 6 and over, with blasters, goggles and target vests provided. The site was once part of the RAF Burtonwood air base, and the RAF Burtonwood Heritage Centre on the park has RAF memorabilia and displays on its history. It suits families with younger children, who can build a day around the rides, play areas and themed zones.

Tip: The website says booking tickets early can save money, so check online before you go.

Little Moreton Hall is an iconic Tudor manor house encircled by a moat. Building began around 1504 and carried on in stages until about 1610. The result is a highly irregular half-timbered house with wonky angles and a top-heavy look, thanks to the Long Gallery on the upper floor. It is Grade I listed and has been described as "lifted straight from a fairy story, a gingerbread house".

Wander round the courtyard and the house, then stroll the knot garden, seasonal borders and traditional viewing mounds. Volunteers and a Living History Team help bring the Hall's stories to life, and families can pick up spotter activities. There are two tea rooms and a pre-loved bookshop in the Welcome Building. Expect steep spiral staircases, uneven floors and a cobbled courtyard.

Tip: Head to the Welcome Building first, as all visitors must. Dogs on leads are welcome on the front lawn, car park area and canal path, but only assistance dogs go inside.

Chester Zoo is a conservation charity and one of the UK's largest zoos, covering 130 acres with over 30,000 animals from more than 500 species. You can explore over 10 indoor habitats, including the UK's largest tropical biodome, and walk through the lemur area to get close to the troop. The Monsoon Forest habitat and award-winning gardens add plenty more to see.

There are five adventure playgrounds for children, and you can take the Islands Lazy River boat ride. Keepers and Zoo Rangers give daily talks about the animals they care for. The zoo is a short distance from Chester city centre and the M56, and it has been rated the UK's number one zoo by Tripadvisor.

Tip: Book online in advance to save on gate prices, and parking in the zoo car park is free.

Knowsley Safari is a safari park in Prescot, Merseyside, set in the parkland of Knowsley Hall. The main event is the 5-mile Safari Drive, where you travel in your own vehicle past animals such as African lions, southern white rhinos, Bactrian camels, European bison and olive baboons. There is a bypass around the baboons if you would rather keep them away from your car.

Afterwards you can park for free and explore the Foot Safari, home to Nubian giraffes, Andean bears, meerkats, capybaras and California sea lions. The Amur Tiger Trail has forest areas, streams and ponds. Animal talks and displays are included with a standard ticket. There are also fairground rides and amusements, a small railway, and a restaurant and gift shop. The park is a member of BIAZA and EAZA.

Tip: Book online in advance, as tickets are cheaper that way and online booking is essential.

Crewe Heritage Centre is a railway museum on part of the old Crewe Works yard, between the railway station and the town centre. Its exhibits include a Class 370 Advanced Passenger Train (APT-P) built by British Rail in the 1970s and 1980s, a collection of steam, diesel and electric locomotives, and model railways. The Exhibition Hall has displays about Crewe, from locomotive and carriage building to its famous junction station.

The site also has a 7 in gauge miniature railway and three signal boxes. Crewe North Junction was built in 1939 with a concrete roof and walls designed to withstand wartime bombs. Exeter West, a 131-lever box that once controlled the split at Exeter St Davids, was rebuilt here. If you like railways and their history, this is a good way to spend a few hours.

Tip: Head for the Crewe North Junction signal box, which sits between the West Coast Main Line and the Crewe-Chester line, to watch passing trains.

The People's History Museum in Manchester is the national museum of democracy. It tells the story of how democracy developed in Britain, and of ordinary people who came together to fight for their rights. It is based in a Grade II listed former hydraulic pumping station, linked by a glass walkway to a modern extension.

The collection covers topics such as the Peterloo Massacre, trade unionism, the women's suffrage movement and the co-operative movement. It holds the largest collection of banners in the world, alongside posters, badges and photographs. Galleries and exhibitions include hands-on and digital interactives, and the museum describes itself as family friendly throughout. There is a café, a gift shop and a picnic area. It suits history fans, curious adults and families wanting a day in the city.

Tip: Check the museum's website before you go, as the exhibitions and activities change.

Gladstone Pottery Museum in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, is a working museum of a medium-sized coal-fired pottery, the kind once common across North Staffordshire. It is a grade II* listed complex, and its bottle kilns are among the few that survive in the city.

You can explore the bottle kilns, the engine house, the slip room and the saggar-making workshop, and try hands-on displays of throwing, moulding and decorating. Galleries cover the history of tiles and of sanitary ware, and the shop sells ceramics made and decorated at the museum. It suits families, history fans and anyone who has watched The Great Pottery Throw Down, which has been filmed here.

Tip: Opening days and hours change through the year and the museum has periods of closure, so check the Gladstone website or call before you set off. Only trained assistance dogs are allowed on site.