Lavender Cottage

Warwick Castle stands on a sandstone bluff at a bend of the River Avon. The Normans built a motte-and-bailey castle here in 1068, and it was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. The 14th-century facade facing the town is one of the best-known examples of medieval military architecture in Britain.

Tip: Pre-book online to guarantee entry; advance tickets are cheaper and include a Rainy Day Promise.

Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, is the former farmhouse where Shakespeare's wife-to-be was born and raised. The earliest part dates to 1463, and despite the name it is a twelve-roomed house with visible timber framing and several chimneys. Inside you can see original furniture, including the Hathaway bed, and learn about the family who lived here for 13 generations.

Tip: Pre-booking is recommended. Backpacks are limited and given out first come, first served, so ask for one when you arrive.

The British Motor Museum at Gaydon in Warwickshire tells the story of Britain's motor industry through its designers, factories, workers, cars, adverts and drivers. It holds the world's largest collection of historic British cars, spanning the veteran, vintage and classic eras.

Tip: Parking is free. For sat nav, enter "British Motor Museum" as a point of interest rather than the postcode.

Upton House is a long, low country house built of local yellow ironstone, the 1930s retreat of Lord and Lady Bearsted. It is presented more like an art gallery than a family home, with English and Continental old masters, fine porcelain, early Shell advertising posters and a rare Art Deco bathroom with aluminium-leaf walls.

Tip: The gardens drop steeply in terraces with stone steps and unguarded ponds, so wear sturdy shoes. A buggy runs between visitor reception and the house if you need it.

Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire is run by English Heritage, and much of it is in ruins. Its massive Norman keep dates from the 1120s, and in 1266 the castle endured one of the longest sieges in medieval English history. Later, Robert Dudley, a childhood friend of Elizabeth I, spent fortunes turning it into a showpiece mansion to impress the queen.

Tip: Climb up to the queen's apartments for views over the castle and surrounding countryside.

Broadway Tower is a Grade II listed, 18th-century tower on Broadway Hill, the second-highest point of the Cotswolds. Designed by James Wyatt and inspired by Capability Brown, it's a castle-style building with battlements, gargoyles and turrets. The top three floors are a museum, and a spiral staircase takes you up to the roof platform for the views.

Tip: Book tickets online in advance, as space is limited. The nuclear bunker tours also need booking through the website.

Broughton Castle is a Grade I listed medieval fortified manor house, about two miles from Banbury. It sits on an artificial island in pastureland, surrounded by a wide moat. It has been home to the Fiennes family, Barons Saye and Sele, since 1451. Inside, the main rooms are mostly Elizabethan, including a great hall, a long gallery and a 14th-century chapel.

Tip: Head across the small bridge to see the parish church of St Mary the Virgin and its historic cemetery.

Coventry has had three cathedrals, and you can see two of them side by side. The old St Michael's was bombed in the Coventry Blitz of 1940 and left as a ruined shell, with only its tower, spire and outer walls surviving.

Tip: Use the cathedral's digital guide to get more from the ruins and the artworks as you walk round.