Messingham Grange - Fun Days Out

Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a zoo and conservation centre on the outskirts of Doncaster, South Yorkshire. You explore on foot, with three walk-through animal reserves and themed lands that recreate habitats from around the world. Highlights include Project Polar with its polar bears, Land of the Tigers with a raised walkway, Lion Country, Lemur Woods and the African Plains, where giraffes and zebras share a large paddock.

There are ranger talks and live shows, a dinosaur-themed Pangea area and six indoor and outdoor play areas, so younger visitors have plenty to do. Next to the entrance, The Yorkshire Hive has shops and places to eat, plus Planet Putt, an indoor adventure golf course that is handy if the weather turns. Families and animal lovers will get the most from a visit.

Tip: Booking tickets in advance is cheaper than buying on the day, and Planet Putt next to the entrance is a good wet-weather add-on.

The Deep is a public aquarium in Hull, overlooking the Humber Estuary where the River Hull meets it. Its Endless Ocean tank holds sharks, rays and northern Europe's only pair of green sawfish, and you can walk through Europe's deepest viewing tunnel or ride a glass lift through the water. Elsewhere you'll find the Lagoon of Light with colourful tropical fish, plus turtles, jellyfish, coral, fish that glow in the dark and penguins.

There are hands-on displays and an interactive area where you learn to control an underwater diving vessel, and a chronological journey through the story of the oceans. Daily talks cover sharks, penguins and artefact handling. It was voted the best family place to visit in Hull, so it suits families, and anyone curious about marine life. The Deep is a charity, so your visit supports its conservation work.

Tip: Check the daily talk times when you arrive and plan your visit around the shark and penguin talks. Use HU1 4DP or HU9 1TU for sat nav, which takes you to Tower Street.

Lincoln Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral and a working place of worship, consecrated in the 11th century. The building is grade I listed and has Gothic architecture from several periods, including two large rose windows, the Dean's Eye and the Bishop's Eye. The Victorian writer John Ruskin rated it highly among British buildings.

Beyond the main building, the visitor centre has an Exhibition Gallery with the Romanesque Frieze and artefacts from the cathedral's history. The Discovery Centre lets families build an arch, sit on a throne and recreate a stained glass window. Themed tours cover historic graffiti, stained glass and hidden symbols in the carvings. Dean's Green is a landscaped garden with seating and a fountain, and there is a café and shop. It suits history fans, families with children and anyone interested in architecture.

Tip: The cathedral is a living church, so some areas can close for services or events. Check the visit page for current restrictions before you travel.

Gainsborough Old Hall is a five-hundred-year-old manor house, built by Sir Thomas Burgh in 1460 and now run by English Heritage. It is one of the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England, and a timber-framed building with a striking black-and-white look.

Inside, head for the medieval great hall with its elaborate timber roof, the domestic apartments and the kitchen, which is possibly the most complete medieval kitchen in England. Two open fireplaces are each big enough to roast an ox. Look out for the witches' marks and curses carved into the walls. Climb the brick tower for views over the town and the river Trent, then stop for refreshments in the tearoom in the 15th-century parlour. Children can follow the World Builder trail. History lovers will enjoy the stories of royal visits, Puritan Dissenters and the Hall's later life as a theatre, tenements and even a pub.

Tip: Head for the medieval kitchen and great hall first, then finish with the tower climb (59 steps) for the view.

The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft sits on part of a former wartime RAF station in Lincolnshire. It was founded in 1969 to house and restore trolleybuses as they disappeared from Britain's streets, and its collection is now described as the largest of preserved trolleybuses in the world, with well over 50 vehicles.

It isn't just old buses. There is a Toy Museum, a Cycle Shop Museum, a replica pre-fab home and a 1950s/60s street scene with shop windows and period displays. Younger children have play areas, and there is a Lecture Theatre/Cinema showing videos, plus the Tea Trolley Cafe for a break. The museum describes itself as a family day out for all ages and has a reputation for friendliness. It opens only on selected days, so check its Open Days page before you set off.

Tip: The museum only opens on selected days, so check the Open Days calendar on its website before you travel.

Lincoln Castle was built by William the Conqueror in the late 11th century on the site of a Roman fortress. It is unusual for having two mottes, and it stayed in use as a prison and court for centuries. It sits in the heart of Lincoln's historic Cathedral Quarter.

Inside, you can explore the Victorian prison, with its extraordinary chapel where each prisoner was seated in an enclosed pew, and hear the convicts' stories. The Medieval Wall Walk goes past towers and dungeons, with views over the castle, cathedral, city and surrounding countryside. At the time of writing it is only partially open during repairs and isn't suitable for wheelchair users. The Magna Carta Vault holds an original 1215 Magna Carta, though each document is off display for about three months a year and a guest document is shown instead. There is a gift shop and a cafe on site.

No dogs are allowed in the grounds, apart from assistance dogs (accreditation may be required). Other pets are not allowed either.

Tip: Call the Customer Service Centre on 01522 782019 before you go to check which parts are open and which Magna Carta documents are on display.

Pontefract Castle is a dramatic medieval fortress, now a ruin, with plenty of stories to tell. Built by Ilbert de Lacy in the late 11th century, it is thought to be where King Richard II died, and it saw a series of sieges during the English Civil War. Today it is also a much-loved community space, and entry is free.

You can wander the towering ruins, look into the deep dungeons and visit the medieval herb garden, which grows around 160 varieties of plants. There are free family activities and guided tours, plus a visitor centre, gift shop and the Keep Café, which has vegan, gluten-free and kids' options. It suits history fans and families with children, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the grounds.

Tip: Use the free car park behind the castle (sat nav WF8 2JF). It is a 122m walk to the site, cobbled and uneven in places, with a 1 in 13 gradient. Check the castle website for any roadworks affecting access before you go.

Cusworth Hall is an 18th-century Grade I listed country house near Doncaster, built in the Palladian style by George Platt and altered by James Paine. It is a country house museum, with displays on the history of South Yorkshire inside the hall.

The hall stands in Cusworth Park, a landscape created by Richard Woods. His design included a serpentine river of three lakes, with features such as the Rock Arch and the Cascade. There is also Lady Isabella's Garden on the west side of the hall, and decorative outbuildings including a Brew House, Stable Block and Lodge. The hall looks out over the town of Doncaster.

It suits history lovers and anyone curious about the story of the area and the family who lived here. The hall has also been a resource for local residents, students and school groups.