The Happy Valley Pod

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.

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 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.

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.

Chastleton House is a Jacobean country house built between 1607 and 1612 and now cared for by the National Trust. The same family owned it until 1991, and the Trust has kept it as it was found rather than restoring it, so the rooms feel like a time capsule. Look out for the barrel-vaulted Long Gallery, the Great Chamber, nationally significant textiles and rare Jacobite glass.

Tip: Approach only from the A436. Sat nav to GL56 0SP (the Greedy Goose pub, which is currently closed), then follow the brown signs, and don't follow signs to Chastleton village.

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.

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.