The Gables

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.

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.

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.

The Jet Age Museum sits on the edge of Gloucestershire Airport, between Gloucester and Cheltenham. It tells the story of the county's aviation, from early flight to the birth of the jet age, with aircraft, engines, models and artefacts. Much of the focus is on the Gloster Aircraft Company and the development of the jet engine by Sir Frank Whittle.

Tip: Timed tickets for the Vulcan and Trident cockpits are free from the desk by the hangar doors, so book them as soon as you arrive.

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.

Sudeley Castle is a Grade I listed castle in the Cotswolds, near the medieval market town of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire. It stands in a 1,200-acre estate in the Cotswold hills, with 10 notable gardens covering some 15 acres. After years in ruins following the Civil War, the Dent family restored it and made it a family home.

Tip: Seek out the castle's church to see Catherine Parr's burial place, then leave time for the gardens.

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.}

Eastnor Castle is a 19th-century mock castle in Herefordshire, built between 1811 and 1820 to the designs of Robert Smirke, later the main architect of the British Museum. It was made to look like one of the medieval castles guarding the Welsh borders, and it is still a private home, with tours open to the public in certain months of the year.

Tip: The castle is only open for tours in certain months, so check before you set off.