Cherry Bird Country Park - Fun Days Out

Highclere Castle is a Grade I listed country house in Hampshire, about five miles south of Newbury. The present house dates from 1679 and was largely renovated in the 1840s by Charles Barry in a Jacobethan and Italianate style. It is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, and it became internationally famous as the main location for the ITV drama Downton Abbey and the films based on it.

You can explore the house, the Egyptian exhibition and the gardens on self-guided tours, which are offered during the summer months and at other times of year such as Christmas and Easter. The wider 5,000-acre estate has a park designed by Capability Brown in the 18th century. The house also holds ticketed events, including the Battle Proms picnic concert, and special guided tours.

Beale Park is a wildlife park beside the River Thames in Berkshire, between the villages of Pangbourne and Lower Basildon. It began in 1956, when Gilbert Beale turned 350 acres of private farmland into a charitable trust for the public. The grounds combine collections of small exotic animals, farm animals and birds with landscaped gardens, woodlands and children's play areas.

Birds are a big part of the story. The themed aviaries include regional collections for African, Asian and Australian birds, a walkthrough aviary, an owlery and flamingos, and the park has run a breeding programme for threatened species. Younger children are catered for with sand pits, paddling pools and a Little Tikes play area, while older visitors have the gardens, lakes and a model boat exhibition.

Donnington Castle is a ruined medieval castle in the village of Donnington, just north of Newbury. Sir Richard Abberbury built it in the 14th century, and the striking twin-towered gatehouse still stands, with his private quarters once inside it. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I are thought to have stayed here.

During the English Civil War the castle was held for the king and withstood an 18-month siege. Parliament later voted to demolish it, and only the gatehouse was left. The star-shaped earthworks built to protect it can still be seen, and low modern walls outline where the original castle stood.

It's an English Heritage site, with the ruins set on a grassy area. Dogs on leads are welcome, and Newbury, 2 miles away, has cafes, restaurants and shops.

Tip: From the car park the castle is up a fairly steep gravel path, and the grass is uneven, so wear sturdy shoes.

Legoland Windsor is a LEGO-themed theme park and resort in Windsor, Berkshire, on the site of the former Windsor Safari Park. It has more than 55 rides and attractions across 11 themed lands, plus live shows, building workshops and the Miniland models. It is the most visited theme park in the UK.

Younger children are the main audience. They can earn a driving licence at the LEGO City Driving School, ride the Dragon Coaster through a medieval castle, or explore a lost underwater city in a submarine. Older kids and LEGO fans can head for Flight of the Sky Lion, a flying theatre ride, or the Minifigure Speedway dueling rollercoaster. There is also an indoor LEGO-themed Adventure Golf course, and the BIG Shop is the UK's largest LEGO store. Children under 90cm go free.

Tip: Book your tickets in advance to guarantee entry, and pre-book parking to save time on the day.

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, a World Heritage Site and one of Britain's best-known landmarks. The outer ring of huge sarsen stones, topped with lintels, was raised in the third millennium BC. It sits within a landscape dense with burial mounds and other Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments.

You can walk up to the Stone Circle and take photos, then step into the reconstructed Neolithic houses. Children can have a go at finding out what it takes to move a sarsen stone. The exhibition explains how the builders lived and worked, and includes a Neolithic man brought to life face to face. There's a café for a snack, and plenty of wider landscape to explore on foot.

History fans, families and anyone ticking off an icon will get a lot from it.

Tip: Pre-book your ticket before you travel.

Paultons Park is a family theme park on the edge of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, set in 140 acres of parkland. It has rollercoasters, thrill rides, family rides, indoor and outdoor play areas and water splash parks, along with a collection of birds and animals.

Peppa Pig World is the headline area, with Peppa-themed rides and a large indoor playzone. The park also has themed areas including Critter Creek, Lost Kingdom, Tornado Springs and Valgard, a Viking-themed land. The park describes itself as a family venue, and most of its rides are designed for children and families. It will suit families with young children, and anyone who likes a day of rides alongside the animals and gardens.

Tip: Tickets are for a set date and some days sell out, so book your visit date in advance.

Windsor Castle is a royal residence in Berkshire, founded by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Royal Collection Trust describes it as the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and it has been home to 40 monarchs. The grounds cover 13 acres and combine a fortress, a palace and a small town.

Highlights include the State Apartments, the Semi-State Rooms, Queen Mary's Dolls' House and the 15th-century St George's Chapel, where ten kings are buried, including Henry VIII and Charles I. You can also see the Round Tower on its man-made mound and the castle precincts. Changing the Guard is among the listed highlights. For children, there are free activity trails for ages 7 to 11 and a family multimedia guide with Scorch the dragon. The Undercroft Café, one of the oldest surviving spaces in the castle, is there for a tea and cake break.

Tip: The castle sits at the top of a steep hill and much of the site is outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes and allow for long walking distances.

The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archaeology, founded in 1683 and widely described as Britain's first public museum. Its collections range from Egyptian mummies to contemporary art, telling human stories across cultures and across time. Highlights include the Egypt and Nubia galleries and the Chinese Picture Gallery, the only museum gallery in Britain devoted to Chinese paintings.

Allow time to wander floor by floor, using the interactive floor guide or one of the gallery trails to shape your visit. There is a café, a shop and a Rooftop Restaurant for lunch or afternoon tea. It suits curious families, couples and anyone who enjoys history and art, and it works well as a rainy-day option.

Tip: Groups must book ahead, and booking is strongly recommended for the major ticketed exhibition.