adventure

‘Achtung! Staatsgrenze!” OK, the signpost marking the “state border” didn’t have exclamation marks but, with its no-nonsense Prussian font, it did feel quite shouty. The only thing was, no one on the Feistritzer Alm – a peaceful sweep of Alpine pasture at the meeting of Austria and Italy – was paying any attention to it at all.

Hikers hiked straight past. Mountain bikers used it to prop up their cycles. Cows grazed willy-nilly. And the patrons of the Schutzhütte Oisternig enjoyed their cold beers regardless of which country they were in. While official boundaries may have changed in these parts over the centuries, the magnificence of the mountains has not.

My husband and I had woken that morning in Austria, in the Carinthian village of Feistritz. After breakfast at the old Gasthof Alte Post, we’d bought a loaf from the bäckerei, climbed past the 15th-century church as its bells called worshippers for prayers and continued up through pine forest to these high Alpine meadows – and into Italy.

We were hiking the Alpe Adria, a long-distance trail jointly developed by Austria, Slovenia and Italy that runs from the foot of Grossglockner (Austria’s highest mountain at 3,798 metres) to the Adriatic coast. At 750km (466 miles), the full trail is too long for most people’s summer holidays. But a 135km (84 mile) loop – moderate-graded, doable in a week, with walking days of 15-24km (9-15 miles) – has been created where the three nations meet, to offer a multicultural taster. It’s an appealing idea; hikers love circuiting multiple countries – just look at the numbers crowding the Tour du Mont Blanc these days. While the Alpe Adria loop isn’t quite as dramatic as that, it does offer a much quieter alternative.

We started our journey by catching an early Eurostar to Amsterdam, where there was time for canals, beer and crispy bitterballen before boarding the Nightjet sleeper to Salzburg. In our adjoining capsule-like cabins, we watched the Netherlands segue into Germany, and woke at dawn to pasture, pines and peaks. On the final train from Salzburg to Villach, where we were beginning the loop, the Alps pressed closer, drawing us in.

Now, on the Feistritzer Alm, a day and a half into the walk, Austria was behind us (for the time being) and Italy beckoned, beautifully. Just around the hill from the Schutzhütte Oisternig sat the chapel of Our Lady of the Snows (or the Chiesa Madonna della Neve/Almkapelle Maria Schnee, depending on your linguistic preferences); beyond spread deep-green foothills and the jagged Julian Alps, sawing into a hot-blue sky.

From here, the rest of the day was all downhill, a drop through blessed shade and butterflies, on paths weaving through the pines and peeping out to the peaks, to end in the village of Valbruna, at the Valbruna Inn. We had a wonderful room, and spent time on our balcony, gazing past the geraniums to the sheer Jôf Fuart range, which reaches up to 2,666 metres.

We also spent time in the hotel’s Julius Kugy Library, a cosy den of books on alpinism, named after a writer-mountaineer legend. Born in 1858 to a Slovenian family in Gorizia – then part of the Austrian empire, now in Italy – Kugy is credited with opening up the Julian Alps. He never lost his reverence for nature, always encouraging others to explore with respect, curiosity and awe. I picked up one of his books and read from his introduction: “[This] tries to describe the mountains as a source of happiness, because such they were in my life.”

I couldn’t have agreed more and, with great happiness, we continued the next morning, following the Alpe Adria from Valbruna, across the Saisera River and up through fir and spruce to the Sanctuary of Monte Lussari, a ridge-top pilgrim church and hamlet, where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in 1360. I was less moved by the miracle, or the shops selling branded tote bags, liqueurs and slippers, than by the mountains scattered far and wide. We lingered to enjoy the view, then descended via alpenrose and ambling goats to Tarvisio, finding a different kind of happiness in the town’s gelaterias. Then, later that evening, we sat with cold beers on our balcony at the Hotel Nevada, watching as a storm crashed through, briefly erasing every mountain.

The next day brought more joy as the trail took us along the woodland-weaving Sentiero del Orso and then via a busy cycle path to the Fusine lakes. These twin glacial bowls are so arrestingly blue-green you’d think they’d been AI-ed if you weren’t standing right there. We found a quiet spot to picnic, listening to the whinnying of little grebes and staring beyond the dazzling water to the afternoon’s challenge via the rocks ahead: the haul up to Rifugio Zacchi.

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The Alpe Adria loop usually ends each day in a valley bottom, where there are plenty of inns. But not tonight. Zacchi sits at 1,380 metres, tight-hugged by the intimidating peaks that mark the Slovenian border. After a muggy, magical ascent through forest to the refuge, I sat on the terrace, drinking a superb Aperol spritz, and stared at them, transfixed; a few booms of thunder rippled, just in case the power of nature had been in doubt.

The food at Zacchi was excellent – venison ragù, chargrilled peppers, potato-pancake-like frico, made with local montasio cheese. Also excellent was the fact that, in a stroke of luck, we had a dorm to ourselves. We woke, refreshed and ready for the next border hop.

The most striking route would have been over the forbidding-looking Vratca Pass. The Alpe Adria took us there, for views east into Triglav national park, but didn’t cross. Instead, the trail backtracked down on the Italian side to follow a path through the verdant Sava Valley to the outdoorsy town of Kranjska Gora.

It was a pleasant entrance into Slovenia; however, our exit was spectacular. To get back to Austria the next day, we had to cross the Karavanke Alps and conquer the highest point of our route, the 1,842-metre Schwarzkogel. It was an unrelenting climb, at first amid pasture and shingle roofs, with sublime views to the Julian peaks, then deep in forest serenaded by thrushes, streams trickling to our side.

As we neared the top, we could see south across Slovenia’s surging summits, north across Carinthia’s electric-blue lakes and low hills. Squat white marker-stones began to appear too, strung along the ridge’s spine – an international border marked more casually than most front gardens. We slalomed between the posts, enjoying both the freedom of movement and the majesty of nature. For millennia the Alps have been physical and cultural barriers. The Alpe Adria is a bringing together; a source of mountain happiness.

The trip was provided by Walks Worldwide; the eight-day, self-guided Alpe Adria Tri-Country Trek is from £895 B&B. Accommodation in London was provided by Generator (rooms from £75, dorm beds from £11)

Cabaña Verónica, Spain

A good mountain hut, I reckon, should be small and only accessible on foot after considerable effort. Throw in a bit of historical interest and I’m bound to be happy. In which case, Cabaña Verónica in the Picos de Europa is a fine start to this list. It sleeps six, and at 2,325 metres requires a two-hour trek from the nearest cable car station, never mind road. It has incredible views and a friendly custodian who keeps things in good order. Yet the real attraction is that this place was formerly a gun turret of a US navy battleship that was scrapped in Bilbao in 1960. An enterprising engineer, Conrado Senties, had it carried up on horseback and reassembled on a plug of rock in the middle of nowhere. Don’t ask why, just enjoy the eccentricity.
€15, reservarefugios.com

Låktatjåkko, Sweden

An absolute gem just over 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle and 1,228 metres up a mountain, Låktatjåkko is well placed to deliver that other essential experience of a decent hut: cosy conviviality while surrounded by frequently hostile conditions. When I visited, it was hard to find the hut because it was coated in thick ice and half-buried in snow. The snug timber-clad lounge is the perfect spot to sit in front of the fire and read old accounts of Arctic explorers such as Fridtjof Nansen (there is no phone coverage). The kitchen bangs out endless plates of waffles with cloudberry jam and cream as well as more substantial fare. Be warned, however: in winter the chances of being marooned are quite high and the skiing can be a serious challenge due to extreme cold and fast-changing mountain weather.
From 515 Swedish kronor (£40), laktatjakko.se

Gaustatoppen, Norway

Like many other huts belonging to the wonderful Norwegian Trekking Association, this place is small, well-run and traditional. It’s the route up to it that is astounding. You enter a mountainside, take a thundering old-school funicular railway one kilometre inside the granite, then wander through tunnels of military-grade concrete, before exiting through a blast-proof steel door and climbing down a short way to the hut. All that startling infrastructure is the cold war relic of a Nato communications station now doubling up as a museum and underground route to the hut, which dates back to 1893. This unique means of access gives the hut an advantage: you can stay in winter (weekends only) on the summit of the highest peak in Telemark province, Gaustatoppen, a popular ski resort, and then ski down. When I was there, the view was about 10 metres into thick mist. On a clear day, however, they say you can see one-sixth of Norway.
From 1,550 Norwegian kroner (£122), dnt.no

Chata pod Rysmi, Slovakia

The Tatra mountains have some excellent huts, but this is my pick. Close enough to the summit of Rysy (2,501 metres) for an early start to catch dawn on the top, it is traditional, well-run and basic. The weather here can take a brutal turn at any time of year and, like all the best huts, this is in precisely the right position to be a genuine bolthole. If it looks younger than its 1933 start date, that is because it has been destroyed several times by avalanches and rock falls, which is also why it only opens 1 June to 31 October.
€65, chatapodrysmi.kst.sk

Kredarica on Triglav, Slovenia

This is, in many ways, a standard, old-fashioned mountain refuge, but Kredarica has the great advantage of being the last potential stop en route to the summit of Slovenia’s highest peak, Triglav (2,864 metres). Given that every Slovene feels compelled to visit the summit at least once in their lifetime, this can be a busy place in summer, especially as the views are magnificent. The hardcore, however, savour its spartan winter comforts, when the dormitories are unheated bunkholes for those about to tackle the final, rather tricky ascent to the top (ice axe and crampons essential).
€30 half-board, triglavskidom.si

Le Refuge de Ciottulu di Mori, Corsica

One of the attractions of Corsica’s epic GR20 long-distance footpath is its unapologetically old-fashioned mountain huts. No emergency helicopters swooping in when the G&Ts run out: this is gruff, mule-supplied, mountain hospitality. Ciottulu is a good example of the genre: bare bones dining room and a dormitory with communal sleeping benches for 26. Its ambience is more like a bothy set at 2,000 metres in a vast stony panorama with a slightly unpredictable caretaker.
€15, le-gr20.fr

Breiðuvik, Iceland

The east of Iceland is home to a scattering of superb huts like this one. Breiðvik is actually on the coast and has the usual bunk rooms and well-appointed kitchen. The location is the big attraction: a wild, desolate coastline of volcanic sand beaches and abandoned villages. Together with 39 other locations, Brieðvik is part of a useful network run by the Icelandic Touring Association.
11,500 Icelandic kronur (£70), ferdaf.is

Scotland’s mountain bothies

The UK has always remained aloof from the continental urge to build something cosy on a mountain top. We are much happier sitting inside our leaky waterproofs eating soggy sandwiches. The Mountain Bothy Association is doing a little to encourage us away from such Spartanism, but not too much. Most are former cottages for miners or shepherds; many now have a fireplace or even a wood burner. In some, there are a few supplies left on a shelf by previous guests. I have a soft spot for the hard charms of the least comfortable, where you may find only a stone bench and an open doorway. A few have become over-used and afflicted by visitors who don’t understand the ethos of mucking in, sharing out and cleaning up. For that reason, I’m not sure it’s worthwhile picking out any particular bothy (pictured is the Elphin Bothy in the Assynt region of Sutherland), suffice to say that the roster contains some absolute classics. Go and find them.
mountainbothies.org.uk

Rifugio Nuvolau, Italy

The Dolomites are so blessed with exceptional huts and Nuvolau is one of the best. Only accessible on foot, it was originally built in 1883 as a bequest from the Baron Richard von Meerheimb, the man who coined the term “psychodrama”, something he may have dreamed up while watching a Nuvolau sunset. The impeccable location is famous for its stunning shifts in light and colour. Inside is a dining room that serves excellent food, including a three-course dinner; upstairs is a small dormitory.
€51 B&B, rifugionuvolau.it

Rifugio Lagazuoi, Italy

Many huts in the Dolomites have learned that economic survival is via tourists rather than hikers and climbers. Lagazuoi is one of them. Built as a climbers’ refuge, it has expanded over the years and been connected to the road by cable car, which enables coach parties to stay. And yet, it remains magnificent. The south-facing terrace is lovely and there are fantastic walks all around, not least through the tunnels and terraces of the first world war frontline that lie on the cliff face below. Mount Lagazuoi (2,835 metres) was one location where the Austro-Hungarian empire faced off against Italians. Many years later, in 1965, Ugo Pompanin, a local Alpine guide and rock-climbing pioneer, recognised the potential and built the first hut, which, several additions later, is still run in great style by his son Guido.
From €85 with breakfast, rifugiolagazuoi.com

WITH autumn here and the 2026 never-ending heatwave in the rearview mirror, it’s time to brush up on our knowledge of rainproof attractions.

So, there’s no better time to discover some fun indoor attractions to keep the family occupied as the weather turns – and we have quite a few to share.

Whether you prefer adrenaline-filled rides or obstacle filled challenges – there are loads of great indoor attractions across the UK.

From older kid favourites to the ideal toddler spots, here are the top indoor UK theme parks and attractions:

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Babylon Park, London

Found in Camden, London, Babylon Park is one of the only fully indoor theme parks in the UK.

It even has an underground rollercoaster.

The entire attraction is outer space-themed and boasts different rides and attractions such as a rollercoaster, a drop tower, bumper cars and an arcade.

The park is free to visit but to go on the different rides and attractions you’ll need to buy Game Coins, Bonus Coins and Ride Coins.

Packages for these cost between £14 to £100.

The Playhive, North Yorkshire

Stockeld Park in North Yorkshire is home to The Playhive, which calls itself one of Europe‘s largest indoor playgrounds.

Inside, there are four themed worlds including space, air, jungle and sea.

The different areas feature giant slides, games, tunnels and climbing trails.

Tickets cost from £11 per person, which includes entry to the entire Stockeld Park attraction as well as The Playhive.

Woodlands, Devon

In Devon, Woodlands family theme park has loads of outdoor attractions to explore, but when the weather gets ba, d head inside and you will find what the park claims to be the biggest indoor soft play in the country.

There are multiple different areas for kids to explore across five floors, with net towers, drop slides and ball pits.

There are even specific areas for little ones too.

Big kids – or daredevils – have more thrilling attractions such as a 15.2-metre drop ride too.

And parents can feel at ease by keeping an eye on the kids from one of the many tables around the play area.

Tickets cost £16.50 for adults and kids over 92 cm, which includes access to the theme park and indoor adventure park.

Gravity Max, London

Older kids will love Gravity Max which has two venues – one in Wandsworth and the other in Westfield Stratford.

The attractions feature a huge e-karting track that looks like a real-life Mario Kart game.

There’s also immersive bowling, AR darts, and VR arenas.

Individual activities cost from £16 per person.

Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Parks, multiple locations

Who hasn’t wanted to try out the Ninja Warrior course? Well, you can in a number of places across the country.

With 15 venues across the UK including in Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Bristol and Leicester, the indoor Ninja Warrior UK Adventure Park obstacle courses are the perfect way to have fun indoors.

The obstacle courses have balance beams, monkey bars and the famous TV show obstacle, The Warped Wall.

Tickets cost from £9.50 per person.

Zip World, Llechwedd

Head underground at Zip World Llechwedd in Wales, where there are caves and huge trampolines in a disused slate mine.

There are a number of different activities to choose from including Underground Golf with neon lights from £29 per person.

Or for the same price, there’s a cave tour.

For kids needing to let off steam, there are Bounce Below with a number of giant trampolines across six chambers.

Bounce Below sessions cost from £29 per person.

For the ultimate adventure, head to Caverns at the attraction, where you can zip line through the caves for £79 per person.

Play Factore, Manchester

Play Factore in Manchester claims to be the biggest indoor entertainment attraction in the UK.

Inside, there’s a giant play frame with spider nets, rollers and even the UK’s tallest indoor standing slide.

For younger guests, it has the biggest toddler area in the country too.

Tickets cost from £2.95 to £12.95 depending on the kids’ age, while adults pay £4.75.

Adventure Inside, Essex

Over in Essex, Adventure Inside has a six-storey soft play area with monkey bars and ball pits, ideal for young children.

There’s also a carousel, drop tower ride, swinging pirate ship and a racing spin ride.

An Adventure Island Day Band costs from £30 per person.

And currently, when you buy one you’ll get an annual pass as well for free.

Riverside Hub, Northampton

In Northampton, Riverside Hub is home to several different zones which include Role Play Villages where kids can explore an imaginary world with its own cafe, shop, witch’s house and tooth fairy dentist.

Older kids aren’t left out though as they can try out different climbing activities, including a 10-metre beanstalk.

There’s a giant play frame with slides, games and even a football pitch too.

Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse said: “There’s so much to do here that it’s a struggle to fit it into the two and a half hours that each session is allocated.

“We could have happily spent the whole day and still have gone back for more.

“With three boys aged between five and 12, it can sometimes be difficult to find somewhere that has enough to keep all ages happy as the older two are getting a bit big for soft play, but that certainly wasn’t a problem here.”

Tickets cost £8.50 per adult, £14.50 per child aged one to three-ears-od and £17.50 for kids between four and 17-yers-old.

Flip Out, various locations

Another great indoor attraction with venues across the UK including Bradford, Doncaster, Chichester and Coventry, is Flip Out.

Inside each venue there is a trampoline park with foam pits and stunt walls.

Some venues have additional attractions such as Flip Out Canary Wharf, where there is also laser quest and bumper cars.

Prices vary depending on destination and session length.

AS I sit on the train from London Kings Cross to Skipton, my stomach lurches.

I am about to spend the weekend with 16 complete strangers and I’m nervous. In fact, I’m really nervous. The introvert in me wants to fake a stomach bug and slope off home.  

But as soon as I stumble out of my carriage to meet the first arrivals from Outdoor Adventure Girls, a community for women who love hiking, adventure and getting alfresco, my nerves calm as upbeat chatter fills the space.

And by the time dinner rolls around – a tasty veggie lasagne served with garlic bread, at our digs The Kettlewell Hostel – the women are already starting to feel like friends, which is lucky really considering I’m sharing a room with one of them (Thekettlewellhostel.co.uk). 

Hill Start 

The next morning, we don’t let the rain dampen our enthusiasm as we head off to quaint Malham village, 40 minutes’ drive away, to begin our guided 5-mile circular hike.

We’re led by a fully qualified hill leader, the knowledgeable Ginette, and as we walk, we get to know each other better – the youngest in the group is in her early 20s, the eldest in her 60s, and many are trying a walking weekend for the first time.  

The hike, with its breathtaking vistas across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, takes us around four hours, snaking up past Malham Cove, a 70-metre high, gently curving cliff of white limestone made famous by Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 1, and on to Gordale Scar, a magical hidden limestone gorge.

And for the hardy among us – I am the only taker – there is an opportunity to take a refreshing and invigorating dip in Janet’s Foss, an idyllic waterfall along the route (Yorkshiredales.org.uk). 

By early afternoon, we are all puffed out and head back to the hostel for a chilled paint-and-sip session where we tap into our inner artists to turn canvases into masterpieces.

I create a picture of my new kitten, Siggi, as a take-home present for my fiancé – with the help of a few glasses of prosecco.

Later, we round off the evening with a fun general knowledge quiz night and, for those who are game, a trip to the local pub The King’s Head just three minutes’ stroll away for a last glass of malbec (Kingsheadkettlewell.co.uk).  

The Grassington is greener 

The next morning, an early breakfast of yoghurt, fresh berries and toast with jam kicks things off, before we drive to the nearby market town of Grassington, home to bustling shops, cafes and a farmers market, to begin our second walk of the weekend: a 7km hike through rolling fields and past the picturesque River Wharfe.  

Handily, we finish up at The Fountaine Inn in Linton, where we tuck into a comforting roast of honey roast gammon with garlic and rosemary roast potatoes, maple roast carrots and parsnips, seasonal greens and a hefty Yorkshire pudding, £18.95 (Fountaine innatlinton.co.uk). 

Some 48 hours and a bunch of new friends later, I’m a hiking-weekend convert and make a promise to push myself out of my comfort zone more often. After all, that’s where all the best adventures start, isn’t it? 

WITH the average museum or attraction entrance fee costing between £12 and £21 a day in the UK, you might expect annual passes to be budget-obliterating.

Yet there are tourist spots across England that let you pay for a day and return all year for free, which is a great option for families on a budget.

If you were to boomerang back to some of the below attractions once a month, the cost of a visit works out as little as 41p a time. 

So here are all of the best places across the UK – by region – where you can pay once, then visit again and again for the whole year, absolutely free…

North East 

Preston Park, Stockton on Tees

Centred around a 19^th century mansion on the banks of the River Tees, this 100-acre site features history galleries, a replica Victoria street, and gardens with a poison plot and honeybee hives.

Adults £12, children (3-16) £8. 

Magna Science Adventure Centre, Rotherham

Set within a former steelworks, this interactive science museum has four pavilions dedicated to the concepts of earth, air, fire and water. Plus, there’s a splash park for summer.

Adults £19, children (4 to 15) £17 or (2 to 3) £9. 

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, County Durham

Spreading out across 350 acres, Beamish has revived dozens of 19^th and early 20^th century buildings like post offices, pubs, and sweet shops, and filled them with costumed characters to interact with.

Adults £35, children (5-16) £20.50. 

York Castle Museum, York

Plunge into 400 years of York’s history in the museum’s exhibition rooms, replica Victorian street, and the former cells of York Castle Prison.

Adults £18, children (5-16) £10.80. 

Yorkshire Air Museum, York

The UK’s largest independent aviation museum set on a former WW2 airfield with historic aircraft, displays, a cafe and shop.

Adults £17, children (4-17) £7.

The Deep, Hull

More than 2.5 million litres of water provide shelter to 3,000 fish, sharks, rays, and even penguins at this 24,000 square metre aquarium.

Adults £24, children (3-15) £18. 

North West 

Port Sunlight, Wirral

Built for soap factory workers in the 19^th century, this model village offers a history museum, art gallery, and 130 acres of parkland.

Adults £8, children (5-16) £5.50.

Jodrell Bank, Cheshire

The UK’s largest radio telescope, an immersive planetarium, and a series of hands on exhibitions about space and the universe await visitors to this Unesco World Heritage Site in the Cheshire countryside.

Adults £15, children £10.50. 

Eureka! Science + Discovery, Wirral

Walk through a pair of lungs, design your own toothpaste, and hug a heartbeat tree within four interactive zones themed around the science of bodies, homes, and nature.

Adults and children (3+) £15.95. 

National Football Museum, Manchester

Everything from trophies and football shirts to Subbuteo tables and VR games are on offer at this museum dedicated to the beautiful game.

Adults £16, children (5 to 15) £10. 

Fusiliers Museum, Bury

This museum documents 300 years of The Lancashire Fusiliers and the latter Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, with artefacts like Victoria Cross medals and replica First World War trenches.

Adults £4.95, children £2.95. 

Windermere Jetty Museum, Bowness-on-Windermere

Get to know the 200-year boating heritage of England’s largest lake through vessels, interactive displays, and oral histories.

Adults £12, children (5-15) £6. 

Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton-le-Hole

A six-acre acre swatch of countryside with 20 heritage buildings such as a 1950s village store, Victorian cottage, and thatched Tudor longhouse.

Adults £12, children (4-15) £10. 

Yorkshire Museum 

Featuring displays on everything from the Vikings and Romans to Yorkshire during the Jurassic period – with iPads that showcase what the dinosaur skeletons on show really looked like when they were alive.

Adults £10, children (5-16) £6.  

Murton Park, Murton

Discover 14 acres of countryside exhibits including a farming museum, railway, farm animals, and a Viking village and Roman fort that are open on weekends and school holidays.

Adults £20, children (1-16) £17. 

East Midlands 

National Tramway Museum, Crich

Set around a recreated period village compete with tea rooms and a sweetshop, this museum displays more than 80 historic trams and features a working rideable tramway.

Adults £24, children (4-15) £15. 

Silverstone Museum, Northamptonshire

The two floors of exhibits at Silverstone Museum are crammed with racing memorabilia, F1 cars, immersive experiences like break tests, and photo ops.

Adults £24 online, children (5-15) £20. 

Lamport Hall, Lamport

Wander through period rooms dripping in antiques before ambling around 10 acres of gardens, which once boasted the first ever garden gnomes.

Adults £16, children (11-17) £9. 

Nottingham Castle, Nottingham

Brush up on your knowledge of Robin Hood, Nottingham lace, and the history of rebellion in Nottinghamshire at the hilltop castle that was first built by William the Conqueror in the 11^th century.

Adults £18, children free. 

Bakewell Old House Museum, Bakewell

11 rooms of exhibits spill the secrets of Bakewell’s oldest standing residence and its inhabitants from the past 500 years.

Adults £7.50, children (5-16).

King Richard III Visitor Centre, Leicester

Immersive exhibits recount how King Richad III’s body was discovered under a carpark in Leicester and backtrack through 500 years of history, feuds, and intrigue linked to the King.

Adults £12.50, children (5-15) £6.25. 

Eyam Museum, Hope Valley

This museum lifts the lid on how the residents of sleepy Eyam responded to the outbreak of Bubonic Plague in the 17^th century. Additional displays on local prehistory, mining, and the silk and shoe industry.

Adults £6, children (5+) £4. 

National Space Centre, Leicester

Amongst the 150 plus exhibits at this final frontier-themed museum, visitors will find two genuine rockets, real moon rock, and the UK’s largest domed planetarium.

Adults £22, children (5-15) £20. 

1620s House & Garden at Donington le Heath, Coalville

Explore the stone-walled home and gardens that once belonged to the relatives of Sir Everard Digby, who was executed for taking part in the Gunpowder Plot.

Adults £6.65, children (3-15) £3.95. 

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Sutton Cheney

Nine interactive exhibition rooms walk visitors through the dramatic War of the Roses and the resulting battle that changed the course of British history.

Adults £10, children (3-15) £6.95.

Peak District Lead Mining Museum, Matlock Bath

Hundreds of rocks, minerals, tools, and three interactive mock mine tunnels evoke a time when lead mining was one of the Peak District’s most important industries.

Adults £8.50, children (4-17) £5. 

National Justice Museum, Nottingham

Five floors of exhibits on crime, the law, and punishment, including a Victorian courtroom and Georgian jail. Daily mock trials and free workshops.

Adults £16, children (5-15) £11.50. 

Wollaton Hall, Wollaton

Cocooned within 500 acres of parkland, this Grade I listed Elizabethan mansion is home to a 750,000 item Natural History Museum.

Adults £18, children free. 

Louth Museum, Louth

Learn about brickmaking, carpets, archaeology, the devastating Louth flood of 1920, and the ghost of the green lady at this four gallery town centre museum. Open April to October.

Adults £5, children free. 

City of Caves, Nottingham

Burrow through the caves beneath Nottingham, learning about the people who worked and even lived in them over the years as you go.

Adults £12, children (5-15) £9.50. 

West Midlands 

The Fusilier Museum, Warwick

Artefacts like drums, bearskin hats, uniforms, memorial plaques and even wedding gifts illustrate the personal stories of the soldiers of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Adults £5, children (under 16) free. 

Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry

Cast your eyes over more than 300 cycles, 120 motorcycles, and 250 cars, including penny farthings, Triumphs, E-type Jaguars, and the world land speed record-breaking Thrust SSC.

Adults £15.50, children (5-16) £8.50.

Museum of Royal Worcester, Worcester

Starring the largest display of Worcester porcelain in the world, with a sensory trail and regularly updated temporary exhibitions.

Adults £11.95, children (5-17) £4.50.

British Motor Museum, Gaydon

More than 400 classic cars welcome visitors to the British Motor Museum. Free guided tours take place twice a day and there’s an outdoor play area for sunny days.

Adults £18, children (5-16) £9, when booked in advance. 

East of England 

Museum of the Broads, Stalham

This dog-friendly museum spotlights the natural and human history of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads through more than 6,000 artefacts.

Adults £9.50, children (12-17) £5.50. 

Ely Musuem, Ely

Root around in Ely’s history through exhibits on the city’s prehistoric settlers, folk traditions, local trades, the importance of eel fishing in the area and plenty more.

Adults £7, children (5 and up) £3. 

Denny Abbey & The Farmland Museum, Waterbeach

This yawning site brings together a 12^th century abbey, a vintage village shop, rural trade exhibitions, a nun’s refectory, farming equipment displays, a 1940s farmworker’s cottage, and a clutch of gardens and play areas.

Adults £9.50, children (5-17) £6.50. 

Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton

More than 60 aircraft, 30,000 artefacts, and individual museums on Suffolk’s 446^th Bomb Group, RAF Bomber Command, and the Royal Observer Corps come together on this 11 acre site.

Adults £10, children (5-17) £5. 

Verulamium Museum, St Albans

Occupying the site of one of Britian’s largest Roman cities, Verulamium depicts what everyday life was like for the people who once lived here. Count on coin hoards, mosaics, and reconstructions of Roman rooms.

Adults £10, children (under 16) £5.  

Great London and Outer London

London Transport Museum, Covent Garden

Charting 200 years of transportation developments in London, including exhibits on riverboats, omnibuses, the underground, and the capital’s iconic red Routemasters.

Adults £27, under 18s free. 

Foundling Museum, Bloomsbury

Artworks by Tracey Emin and music scores by classical composer Handel are some of the surprising items on display at the UK’s only museum dedicated to the experiences of people who have been in care.

Adults £14.50, 21 and under free. 

The Postal Museum, Clerkenwell

See rare Penny Black stamps, dress up in postal uniforms, and have a ride on the narrow gauge underground Mail Rail railway at this museum that documents 500 years of postal history.

Adults £20.50, children (2-17) £11. 

Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

The hub of Greenwich’s Unesco World Heritage Site, this former hospital treats visitors to an ornately frescoed Painted Hall, an elegant chapel, and an interactive visitor centre.

Adults £19, children free. 

The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace

Discover what goes on behind the scenes at the stables responsible for all the road travel arrangements for the Royal Family, including a peek at the Cinderella-esque golden state coach.

Adult £18, young person (18-24) £12, children £9. 

Windsor Castle, Windsor

The largest occupied castle in the world, Windsor Castle welcomes visitors to explore its state apartments, ceremonial rooms, and castle precincts.

Adults £32, young person (18-24) £21, children £16. 

South East 

Milton Keynes Museum, Wolverton

With displays on prehistoric times, Victorian life, farming, printing, and a street of replica shops from yesteryear, this museum looks into the stories that have shaped Milton Keynes.

Adults £17, children (5-16) £12.   

Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire

The former top-secret workplace of Britain’s World War Two codebreakers features 11 historic buildings, 12 hands-on exhibitions, recreated period rooms, and a cinematic experience.

Adults £28.75, children £7.50. 

Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock

Exploring how conflict has shaped Oxfordshire, the permanent exhibition at this museum looks into everything from The Liberation of Bergen Belsen by the Oxfordshire Yeomanry to the county’s secret agents.

Adults £9, children (5-16) £5.50.

Wallingford Museum, Wallingford

This two-floor, wood beamed museum tackles almost 3,000 years of local history including Wallingford’s links to Queen of Crime fiction, Agatha Christie.

Adults £6, children free.  

Milestones Museum, Basingstoke

The replica streetscapes at this film set style museum chart the history of Hampshire from the Victorian era to the swinging sixties.

Adults £18.50, children (5-15) £12.50. 

Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Great Missenden

Based in the village where Roald Dahl lived and worked for almost four decades, this museum celebrates the life of the BFG author through memorabilia, hands-on activities, moving images, and craft offerings.

Adults £13.95, children (5-18) £9.95. 

Aldershot Military Museum, Aldershot

Highlights at this local military history museum include tank collections, a rifle handling area, recreated army barracks, and a World War Two inspired outdoor assault course.

Adults £11, children (5-15) £8. 

Cowper and Newton Museum, House and Gardens, Olney, 

Deep dive into the lives and careers of writers William Cowper and John Newton, co-authors of the hymn Amazing Grace, in the restored 18^th century mansion where Cowper lived.

Adults £12, children (under 16) free. 

Jane Austen’s House, Chawton

This red brick cottage is where Jane Austen lived and wrote her novels. Highlights include Jane’s personal letters and first editions of her stories.

Adults £15.50, young people (17-26) £11, children (6-16) £7.25. 

SeaCity Museum, Southampton

Covering 2,000 square metres, SeaCity unveils Southampton’s links to the ill-fated Titanic and reveals how they city became known as The Gateway to the World.

Adults £5, children (5-16) £3.50. 

Leeds Castle, Kent

A favourite residence of King Edward I and dwelling place of Catherine of Aragon, this turreted castle treats visitors to a ‘1930s castle experience’, children’s playground and maze, 500 acres of parkland, and a bird of prey centre.

Adults £38.50, children £28. 

Huguenot Museum, Rochester

Britian’s only museum about the Huguenots – the French protestants who took sanctuary in Britain after fleeing religious persecution in the early 18^th century.

Adults £5.50, children £4.50. 

Museum of the Iron Age, Hampshire

This two-floor museum offers an insight into the history of the nearby Danebury Hill Fort and the people who lived there more than 2,500 years ago.

Adults £5, children (5-15) £3.50.  

South West

National Maritime Museum, Falmouth

15 galleries spread across five floors explore how the sea has shaped human history and culture with remote-controlled boat pool, play zone and more. 

Adults £19, children (five to 18) £10.

Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, Truro

Swot up on all the elements that have helped forge Cornwall’s identity, from its ancient civilisations and geology to its myths and biodiversity.

Adults £10, under 18s free. 

Wheal Martyn Clay Works, Carthew

Learn about Cornwall’s 250-year clay mining history and find out how the industry contributed to the formation of landmarks known as The Cornish Alps.

Adults £17, children (5-15) £7.50. 

Newlyn Art Gallery and the Exchange, Penzance

A twin set of contemporary art galleries where the walls are hung with the works of regional, national, and international artists alike. Exhibitions change regularly.

Adults £9, children free.

The Eden Project, Bodelva

30 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens, including two iglu-like biomes filled with rainforest and Mediterranean flowers and plants.

Adults £35.50 online, children (5-15) £12.50.

Torquay Museum, Torquay

More than 400 artefacts on Egyptology – including a mummified body – accompany displays on natural history, archaeology, planetology, world cultures, and ceramics at this eclectic museum.

Adults £10, children (5-17) £5. 

Dorset Museum and Art Gallery, Dorchester

Four floors of displays spill the beans on Dorset’s natural history, 500,000 years of people’s history, Hardy’s Dorset, and the county’s artistic heritage.

Adults (26+) £13.95, young people (16-25) £11.70, children (0-15) free. 

The Tank Museum, Bovington

The world’s largest collection of tanks and armoured vehicles spreads out across six hangar-sized exhibition halls here, showcasing more than 300 artefacts from 26 nations.

Adults £19.60, children (3-15) £4.80. 

The Etches Collection, Kimmeridge

This modern space is filled with Late Jurassic marine fossils with a ‘sea-rex’ skull, a sea dragon skeleton, and CGI imagery that brings all the information to life.

Adults £9.50, children (5-16) £4.75. 

Museum of East Dorset, Wimborne Minster

The 11 galleries inside this Grade II listed house catalogue the social and local history of East Dorset, touching on subjects from childhood to agriculture.

Adults £12.50, children (5-16) £6. 

Lyme Regis Museum, Lyme Regis

Overlooking Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, this museum lays bare Lyme Regis’ geological heritage, history, culture, and literary connections using audio, touchscreen displays, and handleable objects. Adults £9.95, children (6+) £6.95. 

Bridport Museum, Bridport

The displays at Bridport Museum switch from Jurassic Coast fossils to local rope making history, Anglo Saxon history, and the ‘beastly Bridport’ topic of disease and the ‘deadly Bridport dagger’.

Adults £5, under 21s free. 

Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury

Scattered across the cow shed, farmyard, barn, and orchard of a former abbey farm, the exhibits of this heritage attraction shed light on the working life and rural crafts of countryside Somerset over the ages.

Adults £11, children (5-17) £5.25.   

Haynes Motor Museum, Sparkford

15 exhibition rooms showcase more than 300 vehicles here, whilst displays touch on topics from the birth of the internal combustion engine to sustainable transport.

Adults £22.45, children (4-15) £12.74, when booked online. 

The Food Museum, Stowmarket

17 historic buildings spread across 84 acres highlight how food is grown, made, and eaten. With daily talks and regularly changing exhibitions.

Adults £17.50, children £12. 

Lewes Castle, Lewes

An 850-year-old Norman Castle, where you can climb the keep for views of the South Downs, check out Medieval artefacts in the museum, and picnic in the grounds.

Adults £18, children (5-17) £6.50.  

Anne of Cleves House, Lewes

This timber-framed wonky-roofed building was gifted to Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, after their royal marriage ended. Wander through the Tudor style rooms to gen-up on this period of history.

Adults £7.50, children (5-17) £4.50. 

Fishbourne Roman Palace and Gardens, Fishbourne

See the remains of a once lavish Roman villa, complete with mosaics and artefacts, and mooch around the reconstructed period gardens.

Adults £15, children (5-17) £7.50. 

Michelham Priory House & Gardens, Upper Dicker

Get stuck into 800 years of history at this moated building with its period rooms and seven acres of grounds and gardens.

Adults £15, children (5-17) £7.50.