St Andrews Lakes - Fun Days Out

Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway in Kent, guarding an important river crossing on the London road. Its great Norman keep of Kentish ragstone was built about 1127 by William of Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury. It has three floors above a basement and still stands 113 feet high. A tall forebuilding with its own defences protects the entrance. The keep is one of the best preserved of its time in England or France.

The castle's story is a good one. In 1215 rebel barons held it against King John, who undermined the outer wall and used the fat of 40 pigs to fire a mine under the keep, bringing one corner crashing down. The defenders held on for around two months before hunger beat them. It suits history lovers, and the cathedral and cobbled streets of Rochester are close by.

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.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a maritime museum on 80 acres of the former Royal Navy dockyard in Kent, which claims to be the world's most complete dockyard of the age of sail. The site has over 100 buildings and structures, from the Georgian and Victorian periods through to the present day.

You can go aboard three historic warships: HMS Gannet, the Second World War destroyer HMS Cavalier and the Cold War submarine HM Submarine Ocelot. The Ropery is a Grade I listed rope factory where ropemaking is still explained. Galleries such as Command of the Oceans and Steam, Steel and Submarines tell the dockyard's story, and there is also a historic railway, an RNLI lifeboat collection and the Commissioner's Garden.

It suits families who like hands-on history, as well as anyone curious about ships, submarines and the Royal Navy.

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.

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.

Leeds Castle stands on islands in a lake formed by the River Len, about 7 miles south-east of Maidstone in Kent. It is a Grade I listed estate, and a castle has stood on the site since Saxon times. The building you see today is mostly early 19th century, remodelled in a Tudor style.

The history is royal. Edward I made it a favourite residence and probably created the lake, and Henry VIII used it as a home for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Inside, a painting of Henry VIII meeting Francis I of France still hangs on the wall, and a commemorative sundial links the castle with Virginia. It suits anyone keen on castles and royal history.

Tip: Look out for the painting of Henry VIII meeting Francis I of France, and the doublet worn at the Battle of Maidstone, both on display.

The Queen's House in Greenwich was designed by Inigo Jones and completed in the 1630s as a private retreat for the queens of the Stuart royal family. It is England's first classical building, and its white, elegantly proportioned style stands out against the red-brick Tudor palace that once stood here. Today it is an art gallery, part of Maritime Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Inside, look for the Armada Portrait of Elizabeth I, royal portraits, seascapes and sculpture. Architecture fans can see the Great Hall, a perfect cube, and the Tulip Stairs, an intricate wrought iron staircase that holds itself up. Guided tours and a free audio guide bring the stories to life. It suits history and art lovers, and couples, and it combines easily with the National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark and Greenwich Park nearby. The National Maritime Museum's Parkside Café is a two-minute walk away.

Tip: Book free tickets online in advance to guarantee entry, and head first for the Armada Portrait in the Queen's Presence Chamber.

Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed bridge over the Thames, built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge deck is free to cross on foot, but the Tower Bridge Exhibition lets you go inside. You climb the North Tower, cross the High-Level Walkways 42 metres above the river for views east and west over London, and step out on the Glass Floors.

Afterwards you come down the South Tower and follow the Blue Line to the Victorian Engine Rooms, which powered the Bridge Lifts for over 80 years. An audio tour and a Cat Trail with stamps to collect are both included in the ticket, and there are family craft activities too. The Thames Path runs right past, so it pairs well with a riverside stroll.

Tip: Pre-book your tickets, as everyone queues outside on arrival. Wear comfortable shoes for the Towers, though lifts are available.