32 brilliant days out – from Scottish castles to Kentish wineries and the UK’s biggest

The back garden can be a hugely tempting place to spend a summer’s day, but sometimes there’s nothing like a day trip to enjoy Britain’s rich abundance of attractions.

From wonderful gardens to historic castles, museums, lidos and, of course, seaside resorts for a blast of old-fashioned fun (plus fish and chips, naturally).

The challenge, of course, is choosing somewhere that’s genuinely worth the journey and also won’t leave too deep a burn mark on your credit card.

From free museums and spectacular beaches to stately homes, vineyards and engineering marvels, we’ve swerved the underwhelming and overpriced to hand-pick 32 of the finest days out across the UK. Sunshine isn’t guaranteed, but experiences that won’t leave you feeling short-changed are all but assured.

EAST ANGLIA

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Vast skies, rolling dunes and a seemingly endless sweep of golden sand make Holkham one of Britain’s most spectacular beaches. Even at the height of summer there’s usually space to spread out, whether you’re picnicking, paddling in the shallows or walking along the pine-backed shoreline. It’s a glorious place to spend an entire afternoon before heading into Wells-next-the-Sea for battered cod at the fabulous French’s chippie which has been in situ since 1921 (holkham.co.uk).

Southwold Pier, Suffolk

Traditional seaside charm meets eccentric and often acidic British humour at Southwold Pier. Alongside a slew of quirky independent shops (don’t miss the Hunky Dory retro vintage indoor market) and traditional beach huts, you’ll find the wonderfully bizarre Under the Pier Show, a collection of homemade coin-operated machines including the famous Whack-a-Banker (a more satisfyingly fiscal version of Whack-A-Mole) and the Zimmer Frame Simulator (southwoldpier.co.uk).

Sutton Hoo, Suffolk

One of Britain’s greatest archaeological discoveries sits in surprisingly peaceful surroundings above the River Deben. The National Trust visitor centre tells the extraordinary story of the Anglo-Saxon ship burial that transformed our understanding of early English history, while a gentle meander across the burial mounds make for a breezy, atmospheric summer outing (nationaltrust.org.uk).

The Norfolk Broads

The Broads are best explored from the water and you don’t need naval levels of experience to hire a small day boat from Martham Ferry Boat Yard. Spend a leisurely afternoon drifting through quiet reed-lined waterways, passing windmills, waterside pubs and an astonishing variety of birdlife before paying a visit to one of Norfolk’s growing number of vineyards such as Winbirri or the Chet Valley winery (visitnorfolk.co.uk)

THE SOUTH WEST

The Eden Project, Cornwall

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the Eden Project still feels like a glimpse into a bucolic future. Step inside the vast rainforest biome to find waterfalls, towering tropical plants and steamy jungle paths before exploring the Mediterranean gardens and outdoor sculpture trails. This summer, don’t miss the animatronic and static dinosaurs which are taking over the grounds from July 25 until September 6 (edenproject.com).

The Minack Theatre, Cornwall

There can be few more spectacular places to watch a play than this open-air theatre carved into the granite cliffs above Porthcurno. Productions this summer include Animal Farm, Dear Evan Hanson and Goodnight Mister Tom. Arrive early to explore the beautiful subtropical gardens before taking your seat, where you might just spot dolphins and basking sharks in the waters below (minack.com).

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

Part medieval castle, part subtropical island garden, St Michael’s Mount is one of Cornwall’s most deservedly popular summer destinations. At low tide you can walk across the ancient stone causeway from Marazion. When the sea returns, small boats ferry visitors back to the mainland. Head to Philip’s bakers afterwards for one of the finest Cornish pasties you’ll ever sample, which are made with either traditional shortcrust or flaky pastry (stmichaelsmount.co.uk).

Cheddar Gorge & Caves, Somerset

England’s largest gorge can get very busy on a summer’s weekend; so arrive early to explore the cathedral-like caves where Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton was discovered, sample the famous cheese which is matured underground, then tackle the 274 steps of Jacob’s Ladder for panoramic views across the limestone cliffs (cheddargorge.co.uk).

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

Hampton Court Palace, Surrey

Henry VIII’s primary residence is every bit as dramatic as its history. You can wander through lavish Tudor apartments, lose yourself in Britain’s oldest surviving hedge maze and stroll beside the River Thames before exploring the 60-acre gardens. The Magic Garden makes this a superb choice for younger visitors too, with towers for young princes and princesses to climb and conquer (hrp.org.uk).

RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey

Few places look glossier and more verdant in high summer than Wisley. The enormous mixed borders, exotic garden and glasshouse are packed with colour throughout July and August, while shady woodland walks provide welcome relief on hotter afternoons. Bring a picnic or linger over lunch before browsing one of Britain’s finest garden centres, which has more than 1,000 varieties of UK grown plants (rhs.org.uk).

Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent

Created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, Sissinghurst remains one of England’s most influential gardens. Climb the Elizabethan-era gatehouse tower (where Vita wrote her poems) for sweeping views across the Kent countryside before exploring the famous White Garden, rose garden and peaceful orchard, all of which still feel wonderfully detached from the rigours of the 20th century, never mind the 21st (nationaltrust.org.uk).

Chapel Down Winery, Kent

Guided tours around England’s largest wine producer take visitors through the vineyards before revealing how the multi-award-winning wines are produced. It finishes, naturally, with a generous tasting. Stay for lunch at The Swan restaurant overlooking the vines where you can feast on the likes of South Coast skate with green peppercorn sauce, parsley, shallot and wild garlic (chapeldown.com).

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

Sir Winston Churchill’s birthplace combines one of Britain’s grandest palaces with Capability Brown parkland, formal gardens and lakeside walks.

Families are brilliantly catered for thanks to the vast Adventure Play area, while adults can spend the day admiring the landscaped grounds and an art collection that includes works by George Stubbs and Sir Joshua Reynolds (blenheimpalace.com).

THE MIDLANDS

Warwick Castle, Warwickshire

Few historic attractions put on a show quite like Warwick Castle. Alongside its mighty towers and battlements, there are spectacular birds of prey displays with bald eagles and vultures, live jousting and demonstrations of the giant trebuchet siege machine that once hurled huge stones at enemy fortifications (warwick-castle.com).

Chatsworth, Derbyshire

Summer is the perfect time to wander the gardens of one of the country’s finest stately homes, where fountains, sculptures and immaculate borders lead down to the River Derwent. There’s also an excellent farmyard and a woodland adventure playground which can only be reached via a secret tunnel (chatsworth.org).

Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shropshire

Step back to the year 1900 at this immersive open-air museum, where costumed shopkeepers, blacksmiths and printers recreate everyday Victorian life. Exchange modern money for old-fashioned coins before browsing traditional sweet shops, calling into the schoolroom and sampling traditional beef dripping chips (nationaltrust.org.uk).

National Space Centre, Leicester

Britain’s biggest space museum combines genuine scientific achievement with plenty of hands-on fun for aspiring astronauts. Highlights include the Rocket Tower, the UK’s largest planetarium and galleries exploring everything from the Moon landings to the future of space travel (spacecentre.co.uk).

Trentham Gardens, Staffordshire

Combining restored Italian Gardens with lakeside walks and ancient woodland, Trentham makes for a decidedly demure summer day out. Keep an eye out for the enchanting Fairy Trail, where dozens of tiny wire sculptures are hidden among the trees, before finishing with an ice cream beside the water (trentham.co.uk).

THE NORTH

Parkgate, The Wirral

A seaside village without any sea? This is the surreal reality of Parkgate, a town with a promenade that looks out over what used to be water but, thanks to silting, is now a vast expanse of marshland teeming with birdlife. Other seaside staples are still in place, however, including superlative ice cream at Nicholls parlour. If you’re really missing the sands, then Thurstaston beach is just a couple of miles away (parkgatesociety.co.uk).

Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire

Set within 500 acres of rolling parkland, this remarkable open-air gallery is home to monumental works by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Ai Weiwei. Newly unveiled this year is a typically striking piece by Damien Hirst; a gilded bronze depiction of St Bartholomew (ysp.org.uk).

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, North Yorkshire

ONE of England’s greatest ruined monasteries is made even more magical by its surrounding water gardens and deer park. Wander beneath soaring Gothic arches before exploring the landscaped lakes, follies and woodland paths that make this Unesco World Heritage Site one of Yorkshire’s most atmospheric summer escapes (nationaltrust.org.uk).

The Forbidden Corner, North Yorkshire

Part sculpture trail, part fantasy adventure and part giant puzzle, The Forbidden Corner is quite unlike anywhere else in Britain. Hidden in the Yorkshire Dales, its maze of tunnels, secret doors, optical illusions and bizarre statues is hugely eccentric and just challenging enough to keep older children and adults equally entertained (theforbiddencorner.co.uk).

The Deep, Hull

Rising above the Humber like the bow of a futuristic ship, The Deep is one of Britain’s most impressive aquariums. Sharks, rays, turtles and penguins are joined by thousands of tropical fish, while the spectacular underwater viewing tunnel brings visitors face to face with creatures gliding silently overhead (thedeep.co.uk).

WALES

Snowdon Mountain Railway, Gwynedd

For mountain summit views without the need for hiking boots, the Snowdon Mountain Railway is one of Britain’s great scenic rides. Climbing from Llanberis towards Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), the train passes waterfalls, rocky ridges and sweeping valleys before reaching views that, on clear days, stretch across Snowdonia and out towards Ireland. Book the steam service option for the full heritage experience (snowdonrailway.co.uk).

Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire

One of Britain’s great wildlife spectacles unfolds just off the Pembrokeshire coast. Each spring and summer, thousands of puffins, guillemots and razorbills nest on this rugged island, while grey seals bask along its rocky shores. Catch a ferry from Milford Haven to this retreat to start venturing along the completely car-free, trails (welshwildlife.org).

SCOTLAND

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

Free, enormous and endlessly absorbing, the National Museum of Scotland is the perfect Edinburgh day out whether the sun shines or the rain arrives sideways. Dinosaurs, fashion, science, Scottish history, natural wonders and even Dolly the cloned sheep all sit beneath one roof, while the rooftop terrace offers one of the city’s finest views (nms.ac.uk).

Stonehaven Lido, Aberdeenshire

The lido revival continues apace across the UK, but the pool at Stonehaven, near Aberdeen, is one of the very finest in the land. Perched on the edge of the North Sea, heated seawater keeps swimmers comfortable while waves crash dramatically beyond its walls.

Built in 1934 in Art Deco style, the pool oozes vintage charm, a perfect stop off before exploring the Granite City of Aberdeen itself (stonehavenopenairpool.co.uk).

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, Edinburgh

Camera Obscura combines old-fashioned optical trickery with modern interactive illusions. Start at the rooftop for sweeping views of Edinburgh Castle, then descend through mirror mazes, vortex tunnels and utterly disorientating exhibits (camera-obscura.co.uk).

Kelburn Castle & Estate, Ayrshire

For anyone who thinks castles are predictable, Kelburn is the antidote. Its historic walls are covered in a riot of colour thanks to a vast mural by Brazilian street artists, while the estate adds woodland walks, waterfalls, gardens and a Secret Forest complete with a witches’ cottage and a giant’s castle (kelburnestate.com).

NORTHERN IRELAND

Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim

The basalt columns, crashing Atlantic waves and cliff-edge paths of the Giant’s Causeway feel elemental in summer light, while the legends of Finn McCool (a giant in Irish mythology) provide stimulation to your imagination. You can walk the coast for free, though there’s a charge to enter the National Trust visitor experience (discover northernireland.com).

Mussenden Temple, County Londonderry

Teetering on a clifftop above Downhill Strand, Mussenden Temple is one of Northern Ireland’s most romantic landmarks. Built as an 18th-century library and modelled on Rome’s Temple of Vesta, it offers glorious sea views and windswept coastal walks (nationaltrust.org.uk).

Titanic Belfast

Admission isn’t cheap, but Titanic Belfast remains one of the UK’s most powerful visitor experiences. Set beside the slipways where the ship was built, its galleries trace Belfast’s shipbuilding boom, the liner’s construction, its doomed maiden voyage and the stories of those on board. The scale, detail and emotional pull make it a standout summer day out (titanicbelfast.com).