The West Somerset Railway is a lovely old fashioned steam railway that stops at several places along the Somerset coast; catch a train to the seaside at Watchet, Blue Anchor or Minehead, go and see Dunster Castle, or have a pootle round Bishop's Lydeard. You can have drinks or lunch on the train, book up for events like Murder Mysteries, or hire a carriage for a special occasion.

T: 01643 700398

200 years of cider making has been passed down through six generations of the Sheppy family, so they certainly know what they're doing at Sheppy's Cider. It's a good place to visit when you're on your group holidays in Somerset; go and have a tasting session, walk through the orchards, visit the Rural Life Museum, stop for lunch in the cafe or restaurant. Don't miss Sheppyfest, the first weekend in September, with live music, food and drink.

T: 01823 461233

Originally part of a medieval priory these walled gardens are something of a hidden treasure because not that many people know about them and it doesn't tend to get packed like some places do. Go, because it's all very charming; have a wander round, relax, play, take a big dose of mindfulness. There's a gift shop, plant nursery, and a tea shop where you can tuck into a cream tea or a piece of homemade cake. Events throughout the year - Lambing Fun Day, Easter and Halloween Activities, and a Santa Hunt. 

T: 01278 655042

A lovely place to stop off for a couple of hours or so, especially if you’re hungry because they have a very good café that does breakfast, lunch, tea and cake, and a carvery on Sundays. There are animals to say hello to – chickens, goats, pigs, llamas and ponies, and if it’s raining you can take the tinies inside to romp about in the play barn.

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Take the family to explore the 5.5 acres of grounds here and to see the animals - wallabies, meerkats, monkeys and tapirs; watch the fish in the Aquarium,spot free flying birds and geckos in the Tropical Hall. There are outdoor and indoor play areas and a cafe. 

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Here’s your chance to get behind the wheel of some seriously big earth moving machines. Just minutes from the M5 near Cullompton you can climb on board and drive and operate real diggers – it’s great fun! Diggerland Devon has something for all ages, with rides, mini tractors, dodgems and go-karts. There’s a picnic area, a café and a gift shop; they also do Experience Days for adults and groups.

T: 01634 711711

Barrington Court is a beautiful National Trust owned 16th century manor house with eclectic interiors including a 'modern' bathroom with hand painted tiles, an impressive Great Hall and a Long Gallery that was once used for indoor exercise. The gardens are a delight, especially the rose garden and the walled kitchen garden that has arches hung with ornamental gourdes in the autumn. There's a lovely cafe,a book barn and gift shop. Dogs are allowed in certain areas and in the parkland.

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One of those things you just have to see if you're round these parts. This clapper bridge crosses the River Barle - it's not the original one, that was swept away, but it's identical. Walk from here along the river bank and up to Winsford Hill to see Exmoor ponies grazing. Just up the road is Tarr Farm Inn, a nice spot for a bite to eat.

Montacute House is an Elizabethan Renaissance mansion owned by the National Trust; you might recognise it if you watched Sense and Sensibility or Wolf Hall - both were filmed here. Discover the beautiful gardens with their neatly clipped yew hedges, have tea in the Courtyard Cafe, browse the gift shop and book barn. Take your time to soak up the tranquility and the history, then explore the wider parkland - great for dog walks and picnics.

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The biggest Gorge in Britain and home to some amazing underground caverns; see stalagmites and stalactites and explore Gough's cave where Cheddar Man was found. Climb all 274 steps of Jacob's Ladder to the top of the cliff, go rock climbing or caving. Shops and places to eat; an exciting day out.

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Where else can you climb on board Concorde, go inside a Sea King helicopter and experience what it's like to work on HMS Ark Royal Aircraft carrier? Watch a strike bomber and a strike fighter take off; it's powerful stuff. There's a Children's Adventure Playground and a cafe too.

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Take a family trip to Wookey Hole Caves to explore the subterranean chambers that are millions of years old, and see the famous Witch of Wookey. The kids will love it here - there is SO much to see and do - discover The Enchanted Valley and the Dinosaur Grove, stop for a game of Adventure Golf, enjoy the quirkiness of The Mill with its vintage arcade and magic mirrors. Take a picnic or have lunch in the Mill Restaurant. No dogs.

T: 01749 672243

14 acres of tranquil gardens including an arboretum and a Garden of Reflection. See the ruins of the Great Hall and the Bishop's Chapel, and if you're lucky you'll see the famous swans who live in the moat pulling on the bell when they want their tea.

T: 01749 988111

Crealy Theme Park & Resort is an award winning theme park that makes for a brilliant family day out. There are over 60 rides, indoor play areas, entertainment and live shows, and it’s home to Sooty Land. Ride the Vortex, the Twister and the Soak Zone, little ones will love Neptune’s Tea Cups. Go say hello to the 200+ animals who live here including meerkats, wallabies and alpacas. Lots of food outlets on site. Book online.

Dinosaurland Fossil Museum is such a unique place to visit - it houses a huge collection of fossils found on the Jurassic Coast, from the famous ichthyosaur to tiny fish and ammonites. See Chinese dinosaurs, Russian tribolites and a 73 kilo lump of dinosaur poo! The Natural History Room has some amazing shells and skeletons from more modern times. It's all very fascinating and will appeal to any budding paleontologists or those who love this kind of history.

T: 01297 443541

Not just for motor enthusiasts - this makes for a great family day out! Get up close to classics and super cars; a 1915 Ford Model T, 1970 Chevrolet, 1973 Jensen Interceptor, 1982 Aston Martin Lagonda, a Ferrari 360, Bentleys and Rolls Royces, and heaps more. There are tours, talks and activities and a cafe.

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A seriously good zoo with some very unusual creatures - the big hairy armadillo, rusty spotted cat, cotton-top tamarind and bat-eared fox for example! Stroke alpacas, handle a snake, hear the cacophonous black and gold howler monkeys and singing dogs. Take a picnic or go to the African Cafe.

T: 01598 763352

There's plenty of family fun to be had at World of Country Life near Exmouth. There are lambs and calves to feed, a Deer Train Safari, goat walking, small animal handling, and bird of prey flying displays. Inside there's an Exhibition Hall, Indoor Pet Centre and Animal Nursery, Raceway Electric Cars and soft play areas, so that's your rainy days covered too. Tuck into good local grub in Farmer Lee's Food Barn.

T: 01395 274533

Get up close to some of the wonders of the marine world, with over 40 displays where you'll see moon jellyfish, piranhas, leopard sharks, cleaner wrasse, seahorses, rare orange lobsters, and a whole bay of rays. A fascinating day out for the whole family.

T: 0117 929 8929

An incredible piece of history, right in the middle of one of the world's most beautiful cities, originally built as a complex for bathing and socialising, dating back to 70AD. Take a dip in the thermal spring water, have a guided tour and join in interactive displays, sip tea in the Pump Room Restaurant. In the summer it's open till 10pm and lit by torchlight; well worth seeing.

T: 01225 477785

This is such fun! 4 acres of gardens on the coast with incredible miniature displays including an English village green, a Victorian Christmas village, a medieval castle complete with fire breathing dragon, a country railway, and even a tiny Stonehenge and Paignton Zoo. Much amusement for all ages, and afterwards you can go to the tearoom for a nice piece of cake.

T: 01803 315315

This is a fantastic day out for the whole family. The 80 acre site at Paignton Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals and 80 species of plants. Natural habitats are recreated and include tropical rainforests, savannah and wetlands. Apart from the animals, the little ones will love the indoor and outdoor play areas, the nature trail and the wobbly bridge. Stop for lunch at one of the food shacks or the Island Restaurant.

T: 01803 697500

This world famous Neolithic stone circle rises majestically from the flats of Salisbury Plain; the Visitor Centre and Exhibition are very informative and have over 250 ancient artefacts, including the reconstructed face of a man who lived here over 5,500 years ago. See the Neolithic houses and discover how prehistoric people lived.

T: 0370 333 1181