Dreamwood Lodge - Fun Days Out

Thorpe Park sits between Chertsey and Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, on the site of old flooded gravel pits that give it a watery setting. It opened in 1979 and is run by Merlin Entertainments. Today it's a full day of rides, with a strong line-up of roller coasters.

Big names include Hyperia, Stealth, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno and SAW – The Ride. If you'd rather get wet, there are water rides such as Tidal Wave, Depth Charge and Storm Surge. The park also has gentler rides for those who prefer to laugh rather than scream. Older visitors may like the history too: Flying Fish began life as Space Station Zero, the park's first coaster. Coaster fans, families and groups of friends will all find rides to suit them.

Tip: Book your tickets online in advance to guarantee entry.

Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit at West Kingsdown in Kent. It began as a grassy hollow used by cyclists and motorcyclists in the 1920s and 1930s, and became a tarmac car and motorbike circuit in 1950. It later hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986.

Today it has two layouts: the shorter Indy Circuit, set in a natural amphitheatre where spectators can see almost all of the track, and the longer Grand Prix circuit, used for only a few meetings a year. The calendar includes British Touring Car Championship and British Superbike Championship weekends, plus club racing and trackdays, and the website also lists driving experiences. It suits motorsport fans and anyone curious about racing history.

Tip: Check the event calendar on the Brands Hatch website before you go, as the track activity changes day to day and each event has its own Book Now link.

London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo, on the northern edge of Regent's Park, with the Regent's Canal running through it. It is run by ZSL, a conservation charity, and its animals range from tiny leafcutter ants to a giant silverback gorilla.

You can travel from the rainforests of South America to a monkey-filled jungle of Central Africa, and visit areas such as Penguin Beach, Tiger Territory and Monkey Valley along the way. Daily animal talks explain more about endangered species and how they are being protected. It suits families with children, and anyone curious about the history of the zoo will find plenty to spot.

Tip: Check the daily animal talks when you arrive and plan your route around the ones you want to catch.

The Tower of London is a historic castle and World Heritage Site on the north bank of the River Thames. William the Conqueror built the White Tower in the 1070s, and over the centuries the Tower has served as a royal palace, an armoury, a treasury and a prison. Today it is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces.

Your ticket covers the open public areas, including the Crown Jewels exhibition, the White Tower, the battlements, the Bloody Tower, the Torture at the Tower exhibition, the Fusiliers Museum and the Royal Mint exhibition. A Yeoman Warder tour is also included, subject to availability, and the Warders tell tales of intrigue, imprisonment and execution. Keep an eye out for the Tower's famous ravens too. Some rooms and routes have reduced access or are closed while conservation work is under way, so check before you go.

Tip: The Tower is quieter in the afternoons, after midday. Check the website for temporary route closures before you visit.

Red House in Bexleyheath, south-east London, is the only house designed, built and lived in by William Morris, a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts movement. Morris and the architect Philip Webb designed it, and it was completed in 1860. It became a haven for Pre-Raphaelite artists, including Edward Burne-Jones.

You see the house on a guided tour led by friendly volunteer guides. Look out for the hand-carved staircase newel posts, the repeating patterns William and Jane painted on the ceilings, and the Pre-Raphaelite-style wall murals. A wall painting was found hidden behind a modern wardrobe in the main bedroom. Outside, the garden has arts and crafts style planting, an apple orchard and a rose arch. There is also a secondhand bookshop in the Stables.

Tip: Visits to the house are by pre-booked guided tour only, so book your ticket ahead. The nearest parking is Danson Park, about a mile away.

SEA LIFE London is a large aquarium inside County Hall on the South Bank of the Thames, right next to the London Eye. Over three floors and 14 themed zones, you'll meet more than 500 species, from sharks and sea turtles to seahorses and jellyfish.

Highlights include the gentoo penguin colony in Polar Adventure, the UK's largest living coral reef in Coral Kingdom, and Ocean Invaders, an interactive jellyfish experience. The Aquarium Tunnel lets you watch turtles and rays swim over your head, and there are public feeding and diving displays and touch pools. Rockpool shows the creatures found in British seas.

It suits families with children and anyone curious about marine life. Most visitors spend around 1.5 to 2 hours here, so it pairs easily with other nearby attractions such as the London Eye.

Tip: Book online in advance for the best price, and choose a timed slot or anytime entry. It's a 5-minute walk from London Waterloo station.

Westminster Abbey is the Gothic church in central London where English and British monarchs have been crowned since 1066. Royal weddings have been held here too, and it is the burial place of monarchs, prime ministers, poets, scientists and the Unknown Warrior. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Palace of Westminster and St Margaret's Church.

Inside, you can see Edward the Confessor's shrine and the Henry VII Chapel, an example of Perpendicular Gothic architecture. High above the floor, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in the 13th-century triforium display some of the Abbey's greatest treasures. There is a café with a terrace and a kiosk for snacks and drinks, plus a shop. Up to four children aged 11 and under go free with each parent or guardian, and the Abbey has a visiting families section for exploring with kids.

Tip: Book in advance, as it gets busy. There's no car parking at the Abbey, and Westminster underground station is about a four-minute walk. Bags over 55cm x 40cm x 20cm aren't allowed in.

The British Museum in Bloomsbury, London, is a public museum of human history, art and culture. Founded in 1753, it was the world's first public national museum, and it opened its doors in 1759. Its permanent collection is the largest in the world and follows the story of human culture from its beginnings to the present.

Inside, you can see some of its best-known objects, including the Rosetta Stone from Egypt and the Greek Elgin Marbles. The building also has the Great Court, part of its architecture and worth a look as you pass through. Like all UK national museums, it charges no admission fee except for loan exhibitions. It suits anyone curious about the ancient world and world cultures, and with so much on show you can pick a few galleries rather than try to see everything.