Medmerry Park - Fun Days Out

Butlins Bognor Regis is a seaside holiday resort on the West Sussex coast, at the east end of the promenade in Bognor Regis. Billy Butlin opened the camp in 1960, moving in the amusement park and zoo he had already run in the town. Over the decades it has been refurbished several times, including a big redevelopment that added the Skyline Pavilion, a huge undercover area built to give weather-protected shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment.

It suits families, and anyone curious about the story of the British holiday camp. The sources note that many of the old attractions have been removed over the years, so check what is on offer before you set off, and don't assume it will match what you remember from the past.

Fishbourne Roman Palace sits about 1½ miles west of Chichester. Built around AD 75, it is the largest known Roman residential palace north of the Alps, and its footprint was bigger than Buckingham Palace's. Much of it has been excavated and preserved, with an on-site museum alongside.

The big draw is the mosaics. Fishbourne has the largest collection of Roman mosaics in situ in the UK, including the perfectly preserved Dolphin mosaic in the north wing. Outside, the recreated Roman gardens are the earliest gardens found anywhere in the country. Families can try interactive exhibits, artefact handling and educational trails, and there are volunteer-led tours at times. It suits history fans, curious children and anyone after a day that works whatever the weather, with an indoor museum and covered mosaic area plus open garden areas.

Tip: Head for the north wing first to see the Dolphin mosaic, and check the official website for current opening times, tours, café and dog rules before you go.

HMS Victory is the 104-gun wooden warship that served as Admiral Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. She now sits in dry dock at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, where you can step aboard and explore the decks where sailors ate, slept, worked and fought.

Walk from the upper deck down to the hold, see the historic cabins where major moments in history unfolded, and stand on the spot where Nelson fell. The lower gun deck brings home how crowded life was, with around 820 men from all over the world on board before Trafalgar. Victory Gallery tells the ship's wider story through personal accounts and recent discoveries, and you can see the conservation work that keeps her preserved for future generations.

Tip: Tickets can be bought online through the Royal Navy Museums website, so it's worth sorting them before you set off.

Chichester Cathedral sits in the centre of the old Roman city of Chichester, beneath the South Downs. Founded as a cathedral in 1075, it has fine Norman and Gothic architecture. Two features are unique among England's medieval cathedrals: a free-standing bell tower and double aisles. Its spire is the third tallest in England.

Inside, you'll find two rare medieval sculptures and a mix of modern art, including tapestries, stained glass and sculpture. The vivid John Piper tapestry behind the High Altar was one of Britain's most daring post-war art commissions. The Tudor paintings by Lambert Barnard in the South Transept are also worth seeking out. Guided tours are available, and the Spire Visits take you up winding staircases and through roof spaces once closed to the public. Choral Evensong offers music and quiet reflection at the end of the day.

Tip: Book ahead for a Spire Visit, a guided tour of about 45 minutes that includes climbing winding staircases.

Funland is an amusement park on Hayling Island, near Portsmouth. It is a funfair-styled park, with rides mostly sourced from independent funfair operators and other amusement parks. The rides include roller coasters, a ghost train, a log flume and a range of flat rides, plus attractions for younger children.

Away from the rides, there is an amusement arcade, a large kids' play area and a pirate-themed golf course. Diane's Diner sits alongside cafes, fast food, fish and chips, confectionery stands, midway games and gift shops, so you can easily fill a day without leaving the park.

The park opened in 1984 on the site of a former Butlins and is still run by the Hill family. Its own website describes attractions for young and old, both inside and out.

Tip: No pre-booking is required, but opening times vary through the year, so check the calendar on the Funland website before you go.

Goodwood Motor Circuit is a historic motorsport venue on the Goodwood estate near Chichester, in West Sussex. The 2.367-mile track completely encircles Chichester/Goodwood Airport, and it began life as the perimeter track of RAF Westhampnett, a Second World War airfield.

Today the circuit is used for classic races, track days and try-out days. It is the home of the Goodwood Revival, which celebrates the cars and motorcycles of the circuit's original racing era, with historic aircraft adding to the vintage feel and nearly everyone dressing in period outfits. If you fancy getting behind the wheel, the Goodwood Driving Academy runs driving experiences, and there is a Motor Circuit Café on site.

Tip: Check the Motor Circuit Diary on the Goodwood website before you go to see what is running.

Harbour Park is a children's amusement park on the beach at Littlehampton, next to the working harbour and marina. It has been a family fixture since 1932 and is aimed mainly at primary school children. Outdoor rides run seasonally, and there are also arcades and an indoor soft play area, so it works whatever the weather.

For older children and adults, the Treasure Quest Escape Room puts up to six players aboard an old pirate ship to solve puzzles and find the Silver Wolf pirate's treasure. Players must be 8 or over, and at least one must be an adult. Younger children can try Toddler Town, with role-play rooms such as a supermarket and a vet. The Harbour Kitchen inside the soft play area serves burgers, fish and chips and children's meals, and there is an ice cream outlet too.

Tip: Rides only open on certain dates and times, so check the opening times calendar on the Harbour Park website before you go.

Goodwood House is a Grade I listed country house on the Goodwood estate, near Chichester in West Sussex. It is built around a Jacobean house dating to 1617, with wings added in the eighteenth century, and has been the main seat of the Dukes of Richmond since 1697.

Inside, the Egyptian Dining Room is richly detailed, with gilded cartouches, sphinxes, birds and crocodiles. The house also holds a paintings collection whose origins lie with Louise de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth. An Afternoon Tea & Tour is one way to see it. The landscaped park and woodlands are Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and the house and grounds host the Festival of Speed, while the wider estate stages Goodwoof, a celebration of dogs.