Peacock on the Pin

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.

Hedingham Castle sits on a hill above the village of Castle Hedingham in Essex. Its Norman keep was built around 1140 by the de Vere family, later Earls of Oxford, and is widely described as the best preserved of its kind in England. The estate is still a family home, owned by their descendants, the Lindsays.

Tip: Check the events calendar and book tickets online in advance before you go.

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.

Layer Marney Tower is a Grade I listed early Tudor house in Essex, built in rich red brick with some of the finest Italianate terracotta in the country. Its gatehouse is the tallest Tudor example in Britain, and it was begun by Henry, 1st Lord Marney, who served Henry VIII as Lord Privy Seal.

Colchester Castle is a Norman castle dating from the second half of the eleventh century. Its keep is mostly intact and is the largest of its kind anywhere in Europe. The Normans built it on the foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius, the largest Roman temple in Britain, so Roman and medieval history sit together in one building.

Gainsborough's House is the birthplace of the English painter Thomas Gainsborough, in the Suffolk town of Sudbury. It is now a museum and gallery in a Grade I listed building, parts of which date back to around 1500. It is described as the National Centre for Gainsborough, with a large collection of his oil paintings, works on paper and artefacts on permanent display.

Tip: Check the website's exhibitions and events pages before you go to see what is on during your visit.

IWM Duxford is a branch of the Imperial War Museum, set on the historic Duxford Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire. The site began as a Royal Flying Corps training aerodrome, played a prominent part in the Battle of Britain, and stayed an active RAF airfield until 1961.

Tip: Check the IWM Duxford website before you go for air shows and special events, as the site hosts them regularly.

Mountfitchet Castle is a reconstructed Norman castle and village, built on its original site in Stansted Mountfitchet. You can wander in and out of the timber houses, see scenes of medieval life and smell the log fires. Tame fallow deer and other rescued animals roam freely around the 10-acre site, and you can hand feed them.

Tip: Arrive early to get the most from your visit. The castle recommends allowing at least 2 hours.