Thornhills Lodge

Diggerland is a theme park where children and adults can ride, drive and operate real diggers, dumpers and other full-size construction machinery. The Devon park is in Cullompton, and the whole line-up runs to around 20 rides and drives.

Tip: Check the ride height chart on the Diggerland website before you go, so you know which rides each child can enjoy.

Glastonbury Tor is a conical hill rising from the Somerset Levels, topped by the roofless 15th-century tower of St Michael's Church. Excavations at the summit revealed the plans of two earlier churches on the site.

Tip: There is no parking at the Tor itself, so use the nearest fee-paying car park at Draper and Co on Chilkwell Street and walk, and keep your dog on a lead because sheep graze here.

Cheddar Gorge is a dramatic limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, with cliffs up to 137 metres deep. A day ticket covers Gough's Cave, Jacob's Ladder and the Museum of Prehistory. Gough's Cave is where Cheddar Man, Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, was found, and its stalactites and stalagmites were shaped by an underground river.

Tip: Arrive before 11am, especially in school holidays and on bank holidays, to find a parking space easily. Booking day tickets online in advance also saves money.

Glastonbury Abbey is the ruined remains of a monastery in Somerset. The ruins are a grade I listed building and scheduled monument, open as a visitor attraction. The abbey was founded in the early medieval period, enlarged in the 10th century and rebuilt after a fire in 1184. By the 14th century it was one of the richest and most powerful monasteries in England.

Montacute House is a late Elizabethan mansion in South Somerset, completed around 1601 and built of golden local Ham Hill stone. Inside you can explore the ground floor, which is home to the rare Tournai Tapestry, and the Long Gallery is the longest in England and displays portraits as an outpost of the National Portrait Gallery.

Tip: Parking is free, and timed entry tickets are used on busier days, so check before you set off. The Ladies' Walk is a 45-minute climb with lovely views over the village.

Tropiquaria is a small zoo and animal sanctuary based in and around a repurposed 1933 BBC Radio Transmitting Station at Washford Cross in Somerset. The listed building houses the Reptile House, Aquarium and Nocturnal House, with several acres of outdoor enclosures around it. Outside you can spot animals such as gibbons, ring-tailed lemurs, meerkats, tapir, wallabies and serval.

Tip: Don't leave dogs in your vehicle, as the car park has limited shade; only registered Assistance Dogs are allowed in the zoo.

This museum, now called the Royal Navy Museum, Naval Aviation (formerly the Fleet Air Arm Museum of the NMRN), tells the story of British naval aviation. It sits on the RNAS Yeovilton airfield, about 7 miles north of Yeovil. Its collection takes in military and civilian aircraft, aero engines, models of aircraft and Royal Navy ships, especially aircraft carriers, plus paintings and drawings on the subject.

Tip: Head for the viewing areas if you want to watch military aircraft, especially helicopters, take off and land.

Barrington Court is a National Trust estate near Ilminster, centred on a Tudor manor house begun around 1538. The Trust acquired it in 1907, and it was restored in the 1920s by Colonel Lyle and his wife. Strode House, a former stable and coach block, stands alongside.

Tip: Sat navs can direct you to the rear entrance, so use the what3words location ///rags.could.galaxy and follow the brown tourist signs. Check the National Trust page for what is open before you go.