Laxfield Lodges - Fun Days Out

Framlingham Castle is a Norman-era castle in the Suffolk market town of Framlingham, now looked after by English Heritage. Its curtain wall has thirteen towers and no central keep, and you can follow the wall-top walk right round the defences. Panels point out the town, the outer earthworks and the Mere, and the tall Tudor chimneys on the towers each have a different brick design.

Inside, an exhibition tells the castle's stories, from medieval aristocrats and a Tudor queen to the poorhouse children of the Georgian workhouse that once stood here. A free audio guide is available, and families can try on costumes and play interactive games. There is somewhere to stop for a bite too. It suits history fans, families and anyone who likes a good view over a pretty town.

Tip: Book advance tickets online to save money on the gate price, and pick up the free audio guide to get more from the wall walk.

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.

Helmingham Hall is a moated manor house in Suffolk, begun by John Tollemache in 1480 and owned by the Tollemache family ever since. The house itself is not open to the public, but you can admire it from the grounds, with its 60-foot-wide moat and two working drawbridges that have been pulled up every night since 1510.

The gardens are the main draw. They include extensive herbaceous borders, a rose garden, a knot garden, a parterre, a walled garden, an allée and an orchard. Beyond them lies a 400-acre deer park with herds of red and fallow deer. Both the house and the gardens are Grade I listed, so history fans and nature lovers have plenty to look at.

Norwich Castle was built by William the Conqueror as a royal palace, and later served as a gaol before becoming a museum and art gallery. The medieval Castle Keep has rooms furnished to give an authentic sense of twelfth-century life, along with immersive storytelling.

Inside, The Gallery of Medieval Life, a British Museum partnership, displays over 900 objects. Other galleries cover art, archaeology and natural history, and there is also the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum. Temporary exhibitions and special events run through the year. It suits anyone curious about the Norman era and the castle's long story, from royal fortress to prison to museum.

Tip: Pre-booking tickets online gets you the best price for entry, and a free digital guide is available to help you explore the castle and its collections.

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.

Bressingham is a steam museum and gardens just west of Diss. The museum has several railways running through the grounds, including the Fen Railway and the Waveney Valley Railway, and a locomotive shed where you can get close to the engines. You can also ride the Gallopers, a three-abreast fairground ride built by Frederick Savage in 1897, and see steam rollers, traction engines and other vehicles in the collection.

There is plenty to see on foot too. Walk down the main street of Walmington-on-Sea, with its Dad's Army displays and vehicles, and look round the railway exhibits in the museum. The gardens next door are a separate, privately owned part of the site. They include the Dell Garden with its island beds, and a miniature railway runs through it, giving clear views of the flower beds. It suits steam enthusiasts, Dad's Army fans and anyone who likes a garden.

Tip: Check the train running timetable on the Bressingham website before you go, so you can plan your rides around the day.

Woodbridge Tide Mill is a rare tide mill that still grinds wholemeal flour, with a huge oak water wheel that you can often see turning. A mill has stood on this riverside site since medieval times, and the white-boarded building you visit today is Grade I listed. The mill itself is the exhibit, so you get a close look at the machinery as you go.

You explore across three floors: the Pit Floor, the Stone Floor and the Crown Floor. Computer generated imagery and children's activities explain how grain and flour move around the mill. It suits families, history fans and anyone curious about how things work. Stairs are narrow and there is no lift, but an interactive tour and app let you look around without climbing.

Tip: There's no parking at the mill itself, so use one of the pay and display car parks in Woodbridge, or walk from the station. Check the wheel turning times calendar before you go.

Orford Castle is a 12th-century castle in Suffolk, built by Henry II between 1165 and 1173 to strengthen royal power in the region. Its keep is the main draw. Historian R. Allen Brown called it "one of the most remarkable keeps in England", and its design is unique, possibly inspired by Byzantine architecture.

The keep is a 27-metre circular tower with three rectangular towers built out from its sides. It stands within the earthen remains of the castle's outer defences, and it has views over Orford Ness.

It suits history lovers and anyone curious about medieval architecture. The story behind the design is a good talking point, with historians linking its shape to political symbolism and to the walls of Constantinople. It sits in Orford, a village that Henry's drainage works helped turn into a sheltered port.