Halmore Pod

Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire began as a Norman motte-and-bailey around 1067 and was rebuilt in stone through the 12th and 14th centuries. It has a circular shell keep, a curtain wall, Thorpe's Tower and an inner gatehouse. The Berkeley family have held it since the 12th century, apart from a spell of royal ownership under the Tudors.

Bristol Zoo Project is a wildlife conservation park in South Gloucestershire, run by Bristol Zoological Society. It covers a large site, and its areas are designed to link ecosystems and conservation programmes around the world. Current areas include Bear Wood, Benoué National Park and Discover Madagascar.

Gloucester Cathedral is one of Britain's greatest buildings, with a history stretching back to around 679. Inside you can see the giant pillars of the Norman Nave, intricate fan vaulting (a style invented here in the 1300s) and the grand tomb of Edward II.

Tip: Well-behaved dogs are welcome Monday to Saturday, but only assistance dogs are allowed on Sundays, in the Lady Chapel and on guided tours.

SS Great Britain is a museum ship on Bristol's harbourside, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. When launched in 1843 she was the largest passenger ship in the world, and one of the first iron, propeller-driven ocean liners.

Tip: Parking is available at the Maritime Heritage Centre car park next to the site, and you pay at the ticket desks. The Long Ashton Park & Ride is an alternative Monday to Saturday.}

Aerospace Bristol sits on Filton Airfield, in a First World War Grade II listed hangar and a purpose-built Concorde hangar. The galleries trace over 100 years of aviation history, from the early pioneers through two world wars and the space race to today's aerospace industry, with exhibits from model aircraft to helicopters, rockets and missiles.

Tip: Allow at least three hours, and head for Concorde and its projection show first.

Chepstow Castle stretches along a limestone cliff above the River Wye. Building began in 1067 under William fitz Osbern, a close friend of William the Conqueror, and it is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain. Over the centuries it passed to powerful figures such as William Marshal and Roger Bigod, each of whom left their mark.

Tip: Book online to save 5%. The main path is a steep slope and the steps can be uneven or slippery when wet, so wear sturdy shoes.