Tawny Cottage

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.

Blenheim Palace is one of England's largest houses, found in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the seat of the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Designed in the rare English Baroque style, it was a reward to the 1st Duke of Marlborough for his victory at the Battle of Blenheim, which gave the palace its name.

Tip: Look out for Fair Rosamund's spring, which survives from the old royal deer park at Woodstock.

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.

Worcester College is one of the University of Oxford's colleges, founded in 1714 on a site where learning had gone on since the late 13th century. The main quad mixes an imposing 18th-century neo-classical building with a row of medieval "cottages", among the oldest residential buildings in Oxford.

Tip: Check the college's visiting hours on its website before you go, and look at the self-guided tour.

Merton College is one of the University of Oxford's oldest colleges, founded in 1264 by Walter de Merton. Visitors can explore the four quads and the College Chapel on Merton Street, just off the High Street in central Oxford. An admission brochure includes a map to guide you round.

Tip: Oxford has limited parking and many one-way streets, so consider using one of the city's Park and Ride services.

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.

Christ Church is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, founded by King Henry VIII in 1546. It is the only academic institution in the world that is also a cathedral, and Christ Church Cathedral doubles as the college chapel.

The Pitt Rivers Museum shows the University of Oxford's archaeological and anthropological collections. It was founded by Augustus Pitt Rivers, who gave his private collection to the university, and it has since grown through donations from travellers, scholars and others.

Tip: The entrance is through the back of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Groups of more than ten people must book ahead.