Woad Mill Lakeside Lodges - Fun Days Out

Sandringham House is a royal country house on a large estate in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is owned personally by the monarch rather than the Crown, and the house is Grade II* listed. The landscaped gardens, park and woodlands are on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, and the site has a history stretching back to Elizabethan times.

Visitors can explore the house and gardens, then walk the woodland and waymarked trails of the Royal Parkland. There is a shop selling estate produce, home and garden wares and plants. For food, the Sandringham Courtyard and the Stables Takeaway Café in the gardens serve breakfast, light bites and sweet treats made with local produce. It suits anyone who enjoys royal history, a stroll through historic grounds, or a relaxed day with a cup of tea at the end.

Tip: If you're bringing a dog, check the estate's dog-friendly areas on its website before you set off.

Fantasy Island is a resort theme park at Ingoldmells on the Lincolnshire coast, close to Skegness and a short walk from the beach. Rides are split into three wristband levels, Discovery and Adventurer for thrill seekers and Little Explorer for younger children, with height restrictions applying. Outdoor rides sit alongside an indoor entertainment complex in a steel pyramid.

Beyond the rides you'll find mini golf, ten-pin bowling, amusement arcades, restaurants, cafes and bars, plus live shows at Captain Jack's Showbar and Castaways. The park says its market is Europe's largest seven-day market, and entry to the park and market is free, so you can wander round without buying a wristband. It suits families with children of different ages, and anyone after a lively day by the sea. The park is seasonal, so check it is open before you set off.

Tip: Check the park is open before you go, as it closes between seasons. Wristbands can be pre-booked online or bought on arrival, and the right one depends on your height.

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.

Tattershall Castle is a National Trust property built in the 15th century by Ralph Cromwell, Treasurer of England. The Great Tower is an imposing red-brick keep with seven storeys, including the Parlour, Great Hall, Audience Chamber and Private Chamber. Some of the huge medieval fireplaces were once ripped out for sale abroad before being tracked down and returned.

A wide stone spiral staircase leads up to the roof and battlements, where you can look out across the countryside from the Fens. Outside, the grounds include a double moat, the ruins of the wider castle complex and peacocks. The visitor reception building is a 15th-century building with a small shop and a second-hand bookshop, and there are picnic tables near the car park.

Tip: The tower has 149 steps and no lift, and the grounds have deep gravel, so wear sensible shoes. Dogs on leads can go in most places but not inside the Great Tower, except assistance dogs.

Burghley House is one of the largest and grandest houses of the 16th century, built for William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I. It is still a family home, and the State Rooms are full of paintings and treasures, including ceiling paintings on the Heaven Room and Hell Staircase and carvings by Grinling Gibbons.

Outside, there is plenty to fill the rest of the day. The Sculpture Garden covers Capability Brown's lost gardens, while the Garden of Surprises is a playful mix of classical ideas, astrology and astronomy. Children can head for Hide & Secrets, with woodland play zones and the Hidden Towers structure, which has two huge slides, climbing walls and wobbly walkways. The wider parkland was laid out by Capability Brown, with a large lake. There are places to eat on site, including the Orangery and Garden Café.

Tip: Book online in advance to save money on the day. Dogs on leads can use the parkland, but not the house, gardens or adventure play.

Bolingbroke Castle is a ruined castle in Old Bolingbroke, Lincolnshire. It was founded in 1220 by Ranulf, Earl of Chester, shortly after he returned from the Fifth Crusade. It is one of the earliest castles designed and built without a keep, relying instead on thick walls, five D-shaped towers and a twin-towered gatehouse.

Much of the lower walls are still visible, along with the ground floors of the towers. The castle was the birthplace of Henry Bolingbroke, later Henry IV, in 1367, and it later saw action in the English Civil War before being slighted in 1652. Today it is a national monument, and its story and layout make it an interesting stop for anyone curious about medieval Lincolnshire.

Tip: Look for the lower walls and the ground floors of the towers, which are the main surviving parts to see.

Belton House is a Grade I listed country house near Grantham, built between 1685 and 1687 for the Brownlow family. It sits within formal gardens, including Italian and Dutch gardens, and a wooded park crossed by avenues leading to follies. The park has been home to a herd of fallow deer for over 300 years.

Beyond the mansion, there is plenty to fill a day. The estate has one of the National Trust's largest outdoor adventure playgrounds, an indoor play area, a shop, a second-hand bookshop and the Stables Café, plus picnic benches in the gardens. A circular walk in Belton Park passes ancient woodland and the site of a deserted medieval village.

It suits families with children, garden and history fans, and anyone who enjoys a long wander through parkland.

Tip: There's no need to book for normal visits, and parking is included in the entry fee. Park in the grounds, not in Belton village. Dogs on leads are welcome in the gardens, parkland and café, but not in the house or playgrounds.

Grimsthorpe Castle is a country house in Lincolnshire, a few miles north-west of Bourne on the A151. Despite the name it isn't a castle in the strict sense, but its towers and outlying pavilions give it a massive, fortress-like look. Much of the Tudor house still stands, and Sir John Vanbrugh designed the Baroque north front, which is regarded as his last masterpiece.

Inside, you can see Vanbrugh's monumental stone-arcaded hall and the State Dining Room, which holds the throne used by George IV at his Coronation Banquet. The drawing rooms have portraits by Reynolds and Van Dyck, European furniture and Soho Tapestries, and the Chinese drawing room has a richly decorated ceiling. Outside, the house sits in a 3,000-acre park of rolling pastures, lakes and woodland landscaped by Capability Brown. It has been the home of the de Eresby family since 1516.

Tip: Head for the Vanbrugh hall and State Dining Room first, then take in the parkland.