Hidden Well Lodge - Fun Days Out

Bristol Zoo Project is a wildlife conservation park in South Gloucestershire, run by Bristol Zoological Society. It covers a large site, and its areas are designed to link ecosystems and conservation programmes around the world. Current areas include Bear Wood, Benoué National Park and Discover Madagascar.

The animals include reticulated giraffes, Southeast African cheetahs, Grant's zebra, Western lowland gorillas, European brown bears, Eurasian wolves and wolverines. There are also several kinds of lemur, as well as meerkats, red pandas and gelada. Bear Wood is an environment designed to mimic England in 8,000 BC. The site also grows a third of the food for the animals, so there is a working side to the place as well as the animal areas.

Chepstow Castle stretches along a limestone cliff above the River Wye. Building began in 1067 under William fitz Osbern, a close friend of William the Conqueror, and it is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain. Over the centuries it passed to powerful figures such as William Marshal and Roger Bigod, each of whom left their mark.

You can explore the Great Tower, the gatehouse, Marten's Tower, the Tudor apartments and the four baileys that show how the castle grew and changed. It is a good fit for history fans and anyone curious about how castles evolved to cope with new weapons. An audio guide and guidebook are available, and the castle has a gift shop. Dogs on short leads are welcome on the ground floor levels.

Tip: Book online to save 5%. The main path is a steep slope and the steps can be uneven or slippery when wet, so wear sturdy shoes.

SS Great Britain is a museum ship on Bristol's harbourside, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. When launched in 1843 she was the largest passenger ship in the world, and one of the first iron, propeller-driven ocean liners. She sits on a glass 'sea', and the visit also takes in the Being Brunel Museum, the historic dockyard with its cranes and masts, and the Brunel Institute's maritime archive.

In Being Brunel you can explore the engineer's life and ideas, climb into a broad-gauge carriage and try to draw a perfect circle on a 'moving' train. The Dock Office lets you head back to 1850 and experience the Great Western Steamship Company's Grade-II listed headquarters. It suits families, history fans and anyone after a solid day out in Bristol, and the site is described as one of the city's largest indoor heritage attractions, built for all weather.

Tip: Parking is available at the Maritime Heritage Centre car park next to the site, and you pay at the ticket desks. The Long Ashton Park & Ride is an alternative Monday to Saturday.}

Aerospace Bristol sits on Filton Airfield, in a First World War Grade II listed hangar and a purpose-built Concorde hangar. The galleries trace over 100 years of aviation history, from the early pioneers through two world wars and the space race to today's aerospace industry, with exhibits from model aircraft to helicopters, rockets and missiles.

The star is Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last Concorde built and the last to fly. A projection show of three short films plays onto the side of the aircraft, and then you can step aboard. There's also a conservation workshop where you can watch volunteers restore historic Bristol aircraft, plus hands-on exhibits, an outdoor play area and children's trails.

It suits families with curious kids, plane enthusiasts and anyone who fancies a rainy-day visit indoors.

Tip: Allow at least three hours, and head for Concorde and its projection show first.

Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire began as a Norman motte-and-bailey around 1067 and was rebuilt in stone through the 12th and 14th centuries. It has a circular shell keep, a curtain wall, Thorpe's Tower and an inner gatehouse. The Berkeley family have held it since the 12th century, apart from a spell of royal ownership under the Tudors. It is a Grade I listed building and has been open to visitors since 1956.

The big draw is its story. King Edward II was held here in 1327 and is traditionally believed to have been murdered here. You can still see the cell where he is said to have been imprisoned, next to an 11 m (36 ft) deep dungeon. Anyone who likes castles, medieval history or a good dark tale will enjoy it, and it makes a atmospheric half-day for couples and history fans alike.

The Roman Baths are well-preserved Roman thermae in the city of Bath. A temple was built on the site in the first decades of Roman Britain, and the bathing complex grew up around the natural hot spring over the following centuries. You can see the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and a museum of finds from Aquae Sulis, including the gilt bronze head of the goddess Sulis Minerva. Visitors can tour the baths but cannot enter the water.

Audio guides are included with admission, and a costumed character is usually beside the Great Bath to answer questions about life 2,000 years ago. One-hour guided tours are also available, covering the Roman bathing experience, the Great Bath and the Sacred Spring. The Pump Room, a Neoclassical salon, serves food and drink, and there is a gift shop.

Tip: Book tickets in advance on the official website, romanbaths.co.uk, as advance prices are lower and it is the only genuine ticket seller.