Shearwater Lake House

Avebury is one of the great marvels of prehistoric Britain. Built and altered during the Neolithic period, the henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch that encircles part of Avebury village. Inside is the largest stone circle in Britain, originally of about 100 stones, which in turn encloses two smaller stone circles. Together with Stonehenge, it forms a World Heritage Site.

Tip: Start at the Alexander Keiller Museum to learn about the monuments before you set off. Paths can be uneven and muddy.

Crocodiles of the World is a zoo at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, specialising in crocodilians. You can meet crocodiles, alligators and caiman from around the world, including Siamese crocodiles, Chinese alligators, Nile crocodiles and American alligators. There is underwater viewing, plus talks, animal encounters and feeds through the day.

Tip: Check the daily feeding and talk schedule on the day, and book keeper experiences ahead of your visit.

The Uffington White Horse is a prehistoric hill figure, 110 metres long, formed from deep trenches filled with crushed white chalk. It sits on the upper slopes of Whitehorse Hill, part of the Berkshire Downs, and looks out over the Vale of White Horse. It was made between 1380 and 550 BC, which makes it Britain's oldest chalk figure.

Tip: To see the whole figure, look across the Vale from around Great Coxwell, Longcot or Fernham.

STEAM tells the story of the men and women who built, ran and travelled on the Great Western Railway, in part of the former Swindon Works. You walk through reconstructions of the offices, general stores, foundry, machine shop, boiler shop and erecting shop, with rare archive film and the memories of ex-railway workers bringing each one to life.

Tip: Join the Meet the Volunteers activity, included with admission, to get onto the footplate of locomotives like Caerphilly Castle and City of Truro.

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.

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.

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

Kelmscott Manor is a limestone manor house in the Cotswolds village of Kelmscott, close to the River Thames. Built around 1570 and Grade I listed, it was the country home of the writer, designer and socialist William Morris from 1871 until his death in 1896. It features in his book News from Nowhere.

Tip: Check the current opening days before you go; the manor has been open to the public on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in summer.

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, is run by Forestry England near Tetbury in Gloucestershire. It covers around 600 acres and holds about 2,500 species of tree from across the world, linked by 17 miles of marked paths. The Old Arboretum is a Victorian designed landscape of avenues and rare trees, while Silk Wood is a traditional working woodland.

Tip: Check the Forestry England website before you go, as pre-booking is strongly advised at busy times. Bringing a dog? Stick to Silk Wood and The Downs.