Alton Towers is one of the UK's most successful amusement parks, a short distance east of Stoke-on-Trent. It features a large number of rides, the big five being the 'Black Hole', 'Nemesis', 'Oblivion', 'Ripsaw' and the 'Corkscrew'. Alton Towers is mainly associated with its high profile thrill rides, but it also features some beautiful gardens, originally planted by the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury. There are approximately 200 acres of garden to explore - great for kids and adults alike. View local accommodation

Madame Tussaud's is a famous waxworks museum in London, founded in 1835 by Marie Tussaud, a Swiss wax modeller. The museum is a popular London tourist attraction, drawing 2.5 million visitors each year. The wax figures are noted for their remarkable realism, and many of them (including those of Horatio Nelson and Sir Walter Scott) are original models made by Madame Tussaud herself. The collection now includes life-size models of historical and present-day celebrities. View local accommodation

The Tower of London is an historic fortress set on the north bank of the River Thames in the old city of London. William I built the original tower in 1076, and although the exterior has been modified many times, the interior has retained much of its original Norman character. The tower was used as a royal residence from the 13th century until Elizabethan times, when it became a prison for enemies of the Crown. Many prisoners were executed there, including Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey. The Tower is now predominately a museum, housing the Crown Jewels, and a magnificent collection of arms and armour. View local accommodation

Legoland Windsor lies just to the west of London and is a theme park devoted to the world of Lego. It is divided into areas that include 'My Town', 'Castleland', 'Wild Woods', 'Lego Traffic', 'Duplo Gardens', 'Miniland', 'Imagination Centre' and 'The Beginning'. The park features four theatres and is well equipped for the disabled and those with young children and babies. View local accommodation

Chessington World of Adventures is a theme park in Surrey that offers water, inversion and roller coaster rides named 'Samurai', 'Rattlesnake', 'The Black Buccaneer', 'Dragon Falls', 'Vampire' and 'Rameses Revenge'. The park is divided into several areas called the 'Mystic East', 'Animal World', 'Mexicana', 'Market Square', 'Pirated Cove', 'Toytown', 'Transylvania' and the 'Forbidden Kingdom'. A 'Sky Safari' monorail conveys you through the zoo areas and there are rides suitable for younger children in Toytown. View local accommodation

The administrative centre of the Church of England, Canterbury Cathedral has been the seat of an archbishopric since it was founded in 597. The Cathedral is one of the most splendid examples of Gothic architecture in all England, and in the Middle Ages it was a place of pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas à Becket, Chancellor of England and Archbishop of Canterbury, who in 1170 was murdered in the cathedral on the orders of Henry II. View local accommodation

Edinburgh Castle is perched on Castle Rock, an enormous volcanic rock that towers dramatically over the city centre. Historically the principal royal fortress of Scotland, the castle is dotted with battlements, towers, prisons, and palaces that date from virtually every stage of Scottish history. The castle is open to visitors and is the site of the annual world-famous Edinburgh Tattoo. View local accommodation

Thorpe Park is an amusement and water sports complex located in Surrey near the town of Staines. It features a wide range of attractions and rides that cover five different areas. These include 'Ranger County', 'Thorpe Farm', 'Fantasy Reef', 'Central Park' and 'Canada Creek'. Each area has its own fast food outlets and shops and the recently launched 'Pirates 4D' ride is "an experience so new, so intense you'll never trust your senses again!" View local accommodation

The Eden Project is a "global garden for the 21st century and beyond, a dramatic setting in which to tell the fascinating story of people's dependence on plants and a gateway to a sustainable future". The project features a variety of visually stunning dome shaped greenhouses, and is set in a giant crater in Cornwall, near St Austell. The Eden Project aims to "bring the stories of our world to life". View local accommodation

The massive Blackpool Tower dominates the Lancashire seaside resort of Blackpool. It stands at an impressive 158 m (518 feet) high, was built in 1894, and was modelled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It stands near the famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach that is also the site of the Pepsi-Max roller coaster, which is one of the highest in the world at 78 m (256 feet) high. In autumn the Blackpool Illuminations decorate the promenade. View local accommodation