Maisonwyck

Adventure Island is a theme park on the Southend-on-Sea seafront, flanking the north end of Southend Pier. It has been a theme park since 1976, and its roller coasters include Rage, Green Scream and Barnstormer. Alongside the thrill rides there are rides for younger children, arcades, cafés and restaurants, and a six-storey soft play.

Tip: Check opening times and ride availability on the official website before you go, and buy wristbands online in advance.

Colchester Zoo has been open since 1963 and is home to many rare and endangered species, including big cats, primates, birds, invertebrates and fish. The animals are arranged in themed zones, so you move from one habitat to the next as you explore.

Tip: Arrive close to opening, and book e-tickets online at least 24 hours ahead to get the cheaper rate. If you arrive after midday, visit Kingdom of the Wild and Elephant Kingdom first, as they close an hour early.

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.

Tip: The Tower is quieter in the afternoons, after midday. Check the website for temporary route closures before you visit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Southend Pier extends 1.33 miles (2.14 km) into the Thames Estuary and has long been described as the longest pleasure pier in the world. The current iron pier opened in 1889, designed by James Brunlees, and replaced an earlier timber pier. It is a Grade II listed building, and the poet Sir John Betjeman said "the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier".

Tilbury Fort is an artillery fort on the north bank of the River Thames. King Charles II commissioned the fort you see today after a Dutch raid in 1667, and it is England's best example of a 17th-century bastioned fortress. Its complete circuit of moats and outworks still substantially survives.