Hawkstone

Chester Zoo is a conservation charity and one of the UK's largest zoos, covering 130 acres with over 30,000 animals from more than 500 species. You can explore over 10 indoor habitats, including the UK's largest tropical biodome, and walk through the lemur area to get close to the troop. The Monsoon Forest habitat and award-winning gardens add plenty more to see.

Tip: Book online in advance to save on gate prices, and parking in the zoo car park is free.

Peckforton Castle is a Grade I listed Victorian country house built in the style of a medieval castle, designed by Anthony Salvin. It has a gatehouse, a portcullis, a dry moat and large towers, and it stands in woodland in the Peckforton Hills. It now works as a hotel and events venue, and has appeared in films and television productions.

Tip: Check what is on before you go: the castle runs ticketed events and the Land Rover Experience, so contact them to book ahead. All vehicles use the on-site car park.

Shrewsbury Castle is a Grade I listed red sandstone castle standing on a hill in the neck of the River Severn's meander. Ordered by William I around 1067, it was extended as a base for operations into Wales. Parts of the original medieval structure remain, including the inner bailey.

Tip: Access to the castle grounds is free, so you can look around them even if you don't go into the museum.

Blists Hill is an open-air museum on a former industrial site in Madeley, Telford, recreating the sights, sounds and smells of a working-class Victorian town. It is set in the year 1900 and opened in 1973. You can wander through shops and cottages, including a bank, bakery, chemist, printer, post office and fish and chip shop, with costumed demonstrators showing the skills of each trade.

Tip: Check the National Trust Ironbridge Gorge website before you go, as visits to Blists Hill may need to be booked in advance.

Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker sits in the Cheshire countryside near Nantwich. It was built to let the government keep running after a major nuclear attack, and it stayed secret for more than 50 years. It has since opened to the public as a Cold War museum, with a labyrinth of rooms and authentic equipment to explore.

Tip: Check opening days before you go: it's closed Mondays and Tuesdays except during school Summer and Easter holidays and bank holidays. Download the free audio tour first.

Pitchford Hall is a Grade I listed Tudor country house about six miles from Shrewsbury, built around 1560. Its timber-framed, black-and-white look is striking, and the estate has an orangery and walled garden. Queen Victoria stayed here as a young princess, and during the Second World War the house was chosen as a possible retreat for the royal family.

Tip: Tours of the hall, grounds and treehouse need to be booked in advance through Invitation to View.

Beeston Castle is a former royal castle built in the 1220s on a rocky sandstone crag high above the Cheshire Plain. Winding woodland paths lead up the hill to the gatehouse and the summit, where you can look out across eight counties towards the Welsh Mountains.

Tip: There is no indoor seating at the kiosk, only outdoor picnic tables, so plan for the weather. You can use the kiosk without paying castle admission.

Trentham Estate covers 725 acres on the southern edge of Stoke-on-Trent. At its heart are the award-winning gardens, which include the Italian Gardens, the David Austin Rose Border, a lakeside area, and the Rivers of Grass and Floral Labyrinth. There is also ancient woodland to explore, with walks focused on nature and wildlife, plus adventure and play areas for children.

Tip: Book garden tickets online in advance to save money, and park free on site, just 1 mile from M6 junction 15.