The Ocean Room Roundhouse at East Thorne - Fun Days Out

The Milky Way is a family-run adventure park on a former dairy farm near Bideford. It has more than 110,000 sq ft of indoor attractions as well as acres of outdoor space, so a day here works whatever the weather. Rides include roller coasters, indoor dodgems, a mini-train and Ziggy's Blast Quest, an interactive laser shooting ride.

There are live shows, including birds of prey displays, plus archery, bouncing pillows, big soft-play areas and a display of sci-fi memorabilia. Little Stars is a dedicated play area for under-sixes, with a sensory room for babies. Toddlers through to teenagers and grandparents are all catered for, and most rides and shows are covered by the entry ticket.

Tip: Book tickets online in advance, especially in school holidays, and check the calendar for opening days and times.

The BIG Sheep is a farm park and theme park in Abbotsham, North Devon, built from the old buildings of a family farm. It is best known for its live shows, including the World-Famous Sheep Race, the Duck Trials and the Sheep Show. In the Animal Barn you can meet and feed animals such as pigs, goats and alpacas, and say hello to the Highland cows, Maggie and Merida.

There are rides too, including the Rampage roller coaster, the Twister, a train around the lake, swan pedalos and tractor rides. When the weather turns, head for EWEtopia, one of the South West's largest indoor playgrounds, with slides, ball pits, rope bridges and soft play. There is a toddler zone and a baby sensory room, and a restaurant and coffee seating for grown-ups who want a sit-down. It suits families with children of all ages.

Tip: Pre-book tickets online, as the park gets very busy in school holidays and term time, and booking ahead is cheaper than paying at the door.

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic is in the village of Boscastle in Cornwall. It is dedicated to European witchcraft and magic, with exhibits on folk magic, ceremonial magic, Freemasonry and Wicca. Its collection of such objects has been described as the largest in the world.

The museum was founded by the English folk magician Cecil Williamson in 1951 as the Folklore Centre of Superstition and Witchcraft on the Isle of Man. It moved to Boscastle in 1960. It also holds a large library on related topics, which researchers can use. The museum is held in high esteem by the British occult community, and the Wikipedia entry calls it a popular tourist attraction. You can also search its objects, archive and library on its website before you go.

Tip: The museum's website says there is no parking at the museum, so plan how you will get to Boscastle before you set off.

Camel Creek is a family adventure park near Wadebridge in North Cornwall. The mix includes thrill rides and rollercoasters, outdoor play areas and animal areas, so there is plenty to fill a day. Its indoor play space covers 45,000 square feet, which means a wet day need not spoil the plan.

Other attractions include a 5D theatre with moving seats and 3D glasses, the Creeky's Playhouse soft play area and Swamp Busters. The park also runs special seasonal events through the year, and offers a Junior Keeper experience where children spend time behind the scenes caring for reptiles and meerkats. The park also says it has inclusive rides and facilities, with details on its accessibility page.

Tip: Check the park's website before you go for current tickets and events, as offers change. If a free return pass is offered with day tickets, read the terms first: it is non-transferable and excludes Toddler Takeover days, birthday parties, group bookings and school visits.

Hartland Abbey was founded in the 12th century and is still the home of the Stucley family. You can wander through the house at your own pace, taking in rooms from Medieval to Victorian times, with paintings, furniture and Chinese porcelain collected over generations. Exhibitions cover filming on the estate and the Stonehenge pioneer William Stukeley.

Outside, there are 18th-century walled and woodland gardens, parkland and walks leading down a valley to the rugged Atlantic cove at Blackpool Mill. Spring brings bluebells, primroses and wild garlic. Children can meet the donkeys, peacocks and black Welsh Mountain sheep, and follow the quiz, nature trail or Malory Towers trail. Fans of the TV series will recognise the house, and the Old Kitchens Tea Room serves light lunches and cream teas.

Tip: Hartland Quay is only a mile away, so it pairs well with a visit; the tea room needs a valid garden entry ticket.

King Arthur's Great Halls stand on Fore Street in Tintagel and are dedicated entirely to the legend of King Arthur. The building opened in 1933 and was built by Frederick Thomas Glasscock as the headquarters of the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur. Fifty-three different types of Cornish stone were used in its construction.

The main draw is the art. Veronica Whall's stained-glass windows illustrate the Arthurian tales and show the coats of arms and weapons of the knights involved. There are also several paintings of scenes from Arthur's life by William Hatherell. You enter through a King Arthur themed shop and bookshop at the front. The site describes more than 2 million visitors since it opened, and reviewers praise the windows and the great hall itself.

Tip: You enter through the King Arthur themed shop at the front, so head straight through it to reach the halls and windows.

Screech Owl Sanctuary & Animal Park is a home for owls and other animals on Goss Moor, near Indian Queens in mid Cornwall. Founded in 1990 by Carolyn Screech, it shows owls from around the world, with British, European, African, American, Asian, Australasian and West Indian species. It also rescues and rehabilitates wild owls in Cornwall, and there is a Siberian Eagle Owl breeding project.

Alongside the owls you will find other animals, including wallabies, meerkats, foxes and lemurs. There is a play area and a cafe, plus a gift shop. Keepers run hands-on sessions where you can learn to hold an owl on the glove, or go into an enclosure to meet some of the animals. Education is a core part of the work, so you will learn about the birds and their conservation as you go round.

Tip: If you want an owl or animal experience, call ahead to book, as busy periods may mean walk-up requests can't be fitted in.

Lanhydrock is a Victorian family home inside a Jacobean mansion, once lived in by the Agar-Robartes family. Most of the interiors were rebuilt after a fire in 1881. Inside, you can see the Long Gallery with its ornate ceiling, and families can play in the refurbished Victorian nursery.

Outside, the formal garden is known for its magnolias and has a parterre and herbaceous borders. Beyond it lie almost 1,000 acres of parkland, woodland and heath, with two miles of the River Fowey. There are woodland cycle trails, from gentle family routes to mountain bike descents, plus a play area, cafés, a plant centre and a second-hand bookshop. It suits families, history fans and anyone who likes a long walk with a good tea at the end.

Tip: It is busiest between 11am and 2pm, so arrive later in the day for a quieter visit and shorter queues for the house.