Sandhills Holiday Park

Paultons Park is a family theme park on the edge of the New Forest National Park in Hampshire, set in 140 acres of parkland. It has rollercoasters, thrill rides, family rides, indoor and outdoor play areas and water splash parks, along with a collection of birds and animals.

Tip: Tickets are for a set date and some days sell out, so book your visit date in advance.

Highcliffe Castle is a Grade I listed building on the cliffs at Highcliffe, Dorset. It was built between 1831 and 1835 in the Romantic and Picturesque, Gothic Revival style, and incorporates carved medieval stonework salvaged from two Norman buildings in France, including the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Jumièges.

Tip: You can pre-book tickets online, though some walk-ins are usually taken subject to availability on the day.

The New Forest Wildlife Park sits on the edge of the New Forest near Ashurst and Lyndhurst. It specialises in animals that are or once were native to Britain, plus otters and owls from around the world. The otters are the stars, including the world's largest collection of giant otters, and you can also see wolves, a lynx and Bodie, Hampshire's only wolverine.

Tip: Parking on site is free but first come, first served, so arrive early on busy days. Put the full address into your sat nav rather than just the postcode.

Monkey World is an ape and monkey rescue centre set in 65 acres near Wool in Dorset. It was founded in 1987 and takes in primates rescued from the illegal pet trade, laboratories and abuse, rehabilitating them into natural living groups.

Tip: Book online in advance, as tickets are cheaper than at the gate.

The Russell-Cotes sits on top of Bournemouth's East Cliff, next to the Royal Bath Hotel. This Grade II* listed building was originally called East Cliff Hall. Merton Russell-Cotes, then the hotel's owner, had it built in the Art Nouveau style as a birthday present for his wife Annie, and it later passed to the town as a museum.

Marwell Zoo is a 140-acre zoo at Colden Common, near Winchester, run by the conservation charity Marwell Wildlife. It is home to hundreds of animals, including giraffes, leopards, meerkats and penguins, with red pandas, snow leopards and a walkthrough lemur exhibit among the other residents.

Tip: Book tickets online for the correct day before you arrive, and allow about 4 hours on a first visit.

The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum is an independent museum in New Milton, on the edge of the New Forest. It grew from the collection of Sammy Miller MBE, an eleven-times British Trials Champion who spent decades restoring rare motorcycles from rusty wrecks to working order. The collection includes Vincent/H.R.D., BSA, Norton, Zundapp and Moto Guzzi machines, along with some three-wheeled vehicles.

Tip: Phone the museum on 01425 620777 or check its Facebook page before a long journey or in bad weather, to confirm it's open.

The National Motor Museum sits at Beaulieu in the New Forest, and holds one of the finest collections of vehicles and motoring memorabilia in the world. It runs from the earliest motor carriages to classic family saloons, with motorsport cars, motorcycles and World Land Speed Record breakers along the way. A monorail even runs through the building.