The Barns at Blackwater Meadow - Fun Days Out

Chester Zoo is a conservation charity and one of the UK's largest zoos, covering 130 acres with over 30,000 animals from more than 500 species. You can explore over 10 indoor habitats, including the UK's largest tropical biodome, and walk through the lemur area to get close to the troop. The Monsoon Forest habitat and award-winning gardens add plenty more to see.

There are five adventure playgrounds for children, and you can take the Islands Lazy River boat ride. Keepers and Zoo Rangers give daily talks about the animals they care for. The zoo is a short distance from Chester city centre and the M56, and it has been rated the UK's number one zoo by Tripadvisor.

Tip: Book online in advance to save on gate prices, and parking in the zoo car park is free.

Whittington Castle stands in the village of Whittington in northern Shropshire, close to the Welsh border and the old fort of Old Oswestry. It began as a motte-and-bailey castle and was rebuilt in the 13th century, with buildings along a curtain wall, five towers on a raised platform, a moat and an outer gatehouse or barbican.

There is plenty of history to take in, from the Norman and FitzWarin families to attacks by Welsh princes. A 2003 investigation found that the outer bailey held two elaborate gardens surrounded by water in the 14th century, with a viewing mound in the centre that may be the oldest of its type found in England. The castle is now cared for by a community trust after a major renovation, and a re-enactment group gathers here each year to stage battles.

Tip: Look for the viewing mound in the centre of the site, which may be the oldest of its kind found in England.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal across the River Dee in the Vale of Llangollen. Designed by Thomas Telford and William Jessop, it is a cast iron trough held 127 ft (39 m) above the river on eighteen hollow masonry piers, with 19 arched spans. It is 336 yards (307 m) long and about 12 feet wide.

The aqueduct is made for narrowboats, and a towpath runs alongside the water on one side, so you can see the structure from the canal itself. It is a Grade I listed building and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trevor Basin sits just over the aqueduct, at the end of the canal route that was completed.

Peckforton Castle is a Grade I listed Victorian country house built in the style of a medieval castle, designed by Anthony Salvin. It has a gatehouse, a portcullis, a dry moat and large towers, and it stands in woodland in the Peckforton Hills. It now works as a hotel and events venue, and has appeared in films and television productions.

For a day out, the Land Rover Experience lets you try models such as the Defender and Range Rover off road in the castle grounds. The 1851 Restaurant is award-winning and open to both residents and non-residents. The castle also runs a year-round programme of ticketed events. The Sandstone Trail footpath runs along the base of the slopes below the castle, and the ruins of Beeston Castle stand on a separate hill about a mile to the north.

Tip: Check what is on before you go: the castle runs ticketed events and the Land Rover Experience, so contact them to book ahead. All vehicles use the on-site car park.

Erddig is a late 17th-century country house near Wrexham, saved from dereliction in the 1970s. The Yorke family had an unusual relationship with their servants and commemorated them in portraits and poems, and the servants' quarters and estate workshops survive well. Outbuildings include the Joiners' Workshop, Smithy, Sawmill and Stables, and the house holds a fine collection of 17th-century furniture.

Outside, there is a restored 18th-century walled garden with Dutch influence, plus a large estate of meadows, lakes, woodland and waymarked walks. Families can use the Wolf's Den natural play area in Big Wood, and the Hayloft Restaurant serves hot food, cakes and afternoon tea. It suits history fans, walkers and families who want a mix of house, garden and open air.

Tip: Postcodes aren't always recognised by sat navs, so follow the brown signs on the A525 or A483. Parking is free. Dogs are welcome in the garden and on the estate on a lead, but not in the Hall, Hayloft Restaurant, shop or Wolf's Den (assistance dogs are allowed everywhere). Check the National Trust dog page before you go, as rules can change.

Plas Newydd in Llangollen was the home of Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, two Irish ladies who eloped and set up house together in the late 18th century. It began as a five-roomed stone cottage and was enlarged with many Gothic features. It is now a museum.

The most unusual feature is the exterior, where reclaimed oak carvings from broken-up furniture and church fittings are set patchwork-style over much of the outside, alongside black-and-white trim and stained glass. The ladies also developed the gardens, adding a "ruined" archway, rustic bridges and a temple. Visitors included Wordsworth, Sir Walter Scott and the Duke of Wellington. Those interested in the story of the house and its famous residents will find plenty to look at.

Tip: Look closely at the outside of the house as well as the rooms, since the patchwork of reclaimed oak carvings is its most unusual feature.

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker sits in the Cheshire countryside near Nantwich. It was built to let the government keep running after a major nuclear attack, and it stayed secret for more than 50 years. It has since opened to the public as a Cold War museum, with a labyrinth of rooms and authentic equipment to explore.

Highlights include the nuclear weapons display, one of the largest collections of decommissioned nuclear weapons in the world, and a cinema showing the once-banned film The War Game. There's a N.A.A.F.I. canteen for survival rations, a shop for Cold War souvenirs and a free audio tour. Children can follow the Soviet Spy Mouse Trail, finding toy mice in the rooms and getting a free Small Spies Training Manual. Some of the displays, such as the medical room, are disturbing, and the mouse trail avoids them.

Tip: Check opening days before you go: it's closed Mondays and Tuesdays except during school Summer and Easter holidays and bank holidays. Download the free audio tour first.

Shrewsbury Castle is a Grade I listed red sandstone castle standing on a hill in the neck of the River Severn's meander. Ordered by William I around 1067, it was extended as a base for operations into Wales. Parts of the original medieval structure remain, including the inner bailey.

Inside, the museum tells the story of the county's regimental past, from the King's Shropshire Light Infantry to the 53rd and 85th regiments. Collections include a lock of Napoleon Bonaparte's hair, Karl Dönitz's Grand Admiral's Baton and several Victoria Crosses. Laura's Tower overlooks the townscape and countryside. History fans and anyone curious about military heritage will enjoy it, and the grounds make a pleasant stop in the middle of town.

Tip: Access to the castle grounds is free, so you can look around them even if you don't go into the museum.