Woodside Lodges Country Park - Fun Days Out

Eastnor Castle is a 19th-century mock castle in Herefordshire, built between 1811 and 1820 to the designs of Robert Smirke, later the main architect of the British Museum. It was made to look like one of the medieval castles guarding the Welsh borders, and it is still a private home, with tours open to the public in certain months of the year.

Inside, A. W. N. Pugin decorated the Gothic drawing room in 1849-50. Outside, the gardens and parkland are Grade II* designated. The Eastnor Obelisk, also Grade II* listed, stands in the deer park just over a mile from the castle. The estate also has an 18th-century flour mill that has been restored to working order. Eastnor has appeared in films and television, including two episodes of Succession, so fans of period drama may spot familiar rooms.

Tip: The castle is only open for tours in certain months, so check before you set off.

Gloucester Cathedral is one of Britain's greatest buildings, with a history stretching back to around 679. Inside you can see the giant pillars of the Norman Nave, intricate fan vaulting (a style invented here in the 1300s) and the grand tomb of Edward II. The medieval Great East Window was the largest in the world when it was built, and there's a stained glass window the size of a tennis court.

The fan-vaulted Cloister is famous for appearing as Hogwarts in three of the Harry Potter films. You can also see the monks' communal washing area and enjoy the peaceful garden, with views of the Tower. Guided tours and family activities run through the year.

It suits history fans, Harry Potter fans, families and anyone who enjoys beautiful architecture and stained glass, and the Cathedral describes itself as a good day out whatever the weather.

Tip: Well-behaved dogs are welcome Monday to Saturday, but only assistance dogs are allowed on Sundays, in the Lady Chapel and on guided tours.

Goodrich Castle is a ruined medieval fortress on a rocky sandstone outcrop above the River Wye, near Ross-on-Wye. Begun after the Norman Conquest, it grew into a stone castle with a square keep, big corner towers and a gatehouse with a barbican. William Wordsworth called it the "noblest ruin in Herefordshire".

You can descend into the pitch-dark dungeon or climb the steep stairway to the top of the keep for views over the castle and countryside. Families can pick up the family game from the ticket office, and there is a walk around the dry moat, which is a good spot for a picnic. A tearoom is there for a break afterwards. It suits history fans, families and anyone who likes a castle with a few adventurous corners.

Tip: Book advance tickets online through English Heritage, and pick up the family game from the ticket office when you arrive.

West Midlands Safari Park, near Bewdley in Worcestershire, combines a drive-through safari with walk-through animal areas and an adventure theme park. The four-mile Safari Drive takes you past lions, giraffes, rhinos, tigers and more, including white lions and cheetahs, with the cheetah reserve billed as the UK's largest drive-by one.

On foot, you can visit walk-through areas with penguins, hippos, lemurs, sea lions, lorikeets and meerkats. The African Walking Trail gets you close to elephants, giraffes and rhinos, while Tiger Tropics and Lion Ridge are for big cat fans. Land of the Living Dinosaurs adds animatronic dinosaurs and fossils, and there are daily feeds and talks. Rides in the theme park can be added to your ticket, and the Discovery Trail has mostly indoor exhibits, which helps if the weather turns.

Worcester Cathedral rises above the River Severn and has been a place of worship for fourteen centuries. The present building was begun in 1084 and is Grade I listed. Inside you will find a Romanesque crypt, a chapter house dating from 1120, medieval misericords and a central tower completed in 1374.

Among the monuments are the tomb of King John, of Robin Hood story fame, and that of Arthur, Prince of Wales, elder brother of Henry VIII. Visitors have praised the guided tour of the library, reached by climbing 39 stone steps to ancient books and manuscripts. Reviewers describe the cathedral as stunning, with beautiful windows and good accessibility. It suits families and anyone who enjoys architecture and the story behind a great building. It is also the home of the Three Choirs Festival, the oldest choral festival in existence.

Tip: Join a guided tour if one is running, as visitors rate the library tour highly. Summer holidays can be busier.

Ludlow Castle is a partly ruined medieval fortress in the Shropshire market town of Ludlow, standing on a high promontory above the River Teme. Probably founded around 1075, it was one of the first stone castles built in England and later became the seat of the Council of Wales and the Marches.

You can walk through the castle grounds and explore the ruined lodgings of kings, queens, princes, judges and nobility, a glimpse into medieval and Tudor life. Highlights include the Great Tower, the Great Hall and a rare circular chapel modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The views over the Shropshire countryside are superb. The castle covers almost five acres, and a guide book is available if you want the full story. There is a cafe and a gift shop on site.

Tip: There is no parking at the castle itself, so plan to park in the town and walk in.

Raglan Castle sits just north of the village of Raglan in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. Built and rebuilt between the 15th and early 17th centuries by the Herbert and Somerset families, it was once a luxurious, fortified home, and its large hexagonal keep is known as the Great Tower or the Yellow Tower of Gwent.

Today it is a romantic ruin, and a good place to picture how grand it once was. The castle was surrounded by parkland, water gardens and terraces, and was considered the equal of any other in England or Wales. Its story includes a Civil War siege, when Parliamentarian forces took it in 1646 and deliberately damaged its walls. It's a rewarding stop for anyone who enjoys castles and wants to explore a piece of Welsh history.

Sudeley Castle is a Grade I listed castle in the Cotswolds, near the medieval market town of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire. It stands in a 1,200-acre estate in the Cotswold hills, with 10 notable gardens covering some 15 acres. After years in ruins following the Civil War, the Dent family restored it and made it a family home.

The history is the big draw. Catherine Parr, the sixth wife of Henry VIII, lived here and is buried in the castle's church. Wikipedia describes Sudeley as the only privately owned castle with a Queen of England buried in its grounds. Richard III is credited with building the banqueting hall, and Elizabeth I visited three times, once for a three-day party after the defeat of the Spanish Armada. It suits history fans, garden lovers and couples after a relaxed day out.

Tip: Seek out the castle's church to see Catherine Parr's burial place, then leave time for the gardens.