The Sherwood Hideaway Lodges - 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.

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.

Creswell Crags is an enclosed limestone gorge on the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire border. Its caves were occupied by Neanderthals and modern humans during the Ice Age, and they hold the northernmost cave art in Europe. You can book a cave tour, walk around the gorge and its lake, and look round the museum, which shows stone and bone tools and the remains of animals such as woolly mammoth and woolly rhinoceros.

The site has woodland, meadow and a lake, with trails and longer walking routes into the local countryside. There is a café with indoor and covered outdoor seating, and dogs on leads are welcome outside. A gift shop sells replica Ice Age artefacts and books. It suits families, history fans and walkers who like a day that mixes fresh air with a bit of prehistory.

Tip: Book your cave tour ahead, and check the website before you go as the museum may be closed for upgrade work.

Rufford Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey near Ollerton in Nottinghamshire, founded in 1147. English Heritage looks after the remains, which include the best-preserved west cloister range of a Cistercian abbey in England, dating mainly from around 1170. After the dissolution it was converted into a country house, and the abbey remains are built into part of a 17th century and later mansion.

The abbey sits within Rufford Country Park, which has a lake, a meadow, gardens, woodland, nature trails and a children's play area. The ruins are linked to Bess of Hardwick's husband, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, who converted the abbey into a house, and the site has a reputation for being haunted by a giant monk. It's a good pick for history fans and for families who like to combine ruins with open space.

Tip: Check the English Heritage and Rufford Abbey Country Park websites before you go, as access to the inside of the ruins can change and the car park is run separately from English Heritage. Dogs on leads are welcome.

Gulliver's Kingdom is a theme park in Matlock Bath, aimed at children aged 3-13. It sits on a hillside on the edge of the Peak District National Park, so many of the rides come with views over the Derwent Valley. The Crows Nest Quest is there to climb, and the log flume runs high above the valley.

The park began in 1978 as a model village and grew from there. Its main rollercoaster is named after the Victorian Switchback ride that once stood nearby. There are rides built with younger thrill-seekers in mind, so it suits families with little ones who want a full day of rides rather than anything too extreme.

Tip: Leaving the car behind? Matlock Bath station is a 10-15 minute walk away, and a valid public transport ticket can bring a discount on entry.

Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, now run by English Heritage, was built in the early 17th century on the site of a medieval castle. It was designed for elegant living rather than defence. The playful 'Little Castle' is the star, with its Star Chamber and Marble Closet and striking replica furnishings. You can explore the whole building, from the basement kitchen to the top-floor bedchambers, with a multimedia guide to bring it to life.

Outside, stroll around the Fountain Garden, built around a statue of Venus and planted with flowers that were fashionable in the castle's heyday. The immense indoor Riding House and great stables reflect William Cavendish's passion for training horses. Children can burn off energy in the play area inspired by the castle's architecture, while you watch from the tearoom. There is a café, picnic area and shop, so it's easy to make a relaxed few hours of it.

Tip: Parking in Bolsover, including the castle car park, is free, and booking early online can save money.

Mr Straw's House in Worksop is a National Trust property preserving the home of a grocer's family. It has been virtually unchanged since the Straws moved in during 1923, and it holds around 30,000 everyday possessions, many on display where their owners left them.

Small groups are guided through the rooms, with room guides on hand to tell you about William, Florence, William Jr and Walter. Look out for the stamp collection, Florence's paintings and Walter's bowling balls. Outside, the back garden has Walter's cacti greenhouse, and there is an orchard for picnics. Children can follow a cacti trail through the house.

Tip: Book your timed tour in advance, as groups are limited to four. Bags can't be taken round, so leave them at reception.

Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan country house built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick, once the richest woman in England after Queen Elizabeth I. It is famous for its enormous windows, which gave rise to the saying "Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall". Inside, a wide stone staircase leads up to the state rooms, including one of the largest long galleries in any English house, and a tapestry-hung great chamber with a plaster frieze of hunting scenes.

Outside, there are formal gardens with a herbaceous border, the ruined Old Hall beside the house, and a 2,500 acre estate of meadows, woodland and ponds to walk through. There is a restaurant, shop, plant shop and second-hand bookshop in the grounds. History fans will enjoy it most, and families can follow seasonal trails and adventure in the parkland. Gardeners and walkers are well catered for too.

Tip: No advance booking is needed, and parking is included with a ticket. Set your sat nav to S44 5RW to reach the correct entrance.