Take a trip

Buscot Park, Faringdon
A neo-classical mansion with fine art and furniture collection, set in landscaped grounds where you can explore the Italianate water garden and walled garden. For opening times and admission prices, call 01367 240786 or visit the website: www.nationaltrust.org

Blenheim Palace, Woodstock
Blenheim Palace is set in 2,100 acres of spectacular parkland and is only eight miles from Oxford. Many special exhibitions and seasonal events are staged at the palace throughout the year. For more information about Blenheim Palace (pictured) call 08700 60 20 80 (24-hour recorded information) or visit the website: www.blenheimpalace.com

Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
Explore 30 historic buildings, saved from demolition and moved piece by piece to this countryside setting. Step back in time and get a feel of the 1940s in the fully-furnished prefab or experience 50AD at the Iron Age house. There is 45 acres of woods and parkland to enjoy and a Victorian farmyard. You can also look around Skippings Barn, home to the Hawk and Owl Trust. Call 01494 871117 or visit the website: www.coam.org.uk

Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
Take a seven-mile round trip on the Icknield line, which passes along the foot of the picturesque Chiltern Hills. Steam and diesel locomotives are in action during many weekends in the main tourist season. Tickets can be booked online at the website: www.cprra.co.uk

Didcot Railway Centre
Step back in time and see the steam trains from the golden age of the Great Western Railway. At Didcot you can view a typical branch line, complete with station, signal box and a level crossing. For details of Thomas the Tank engine days, other events and opening times, call 01235 817200 or visit the website: www.dicotrailwaycentre.org.uk

Oxford Bus Museum, Long Hanborough
Home to a historic display of buses, the museum also has the Morris Motors Museum, telling the story of how cars and commercial vehicles were produced at the Cowley works. For opening times and prices, call 01993 883617 or visit: www.oxfordbusmuseum.com

Pendon Museum, Long Wittenham, near Abingdon
Pendon aims to recapture in detailed miniature scenes the beauty of the English countryside as it used to be around 1930. For opening times and prices, call 01865 407365 or visit the website: www.pendonmuseum.com

Project Timescape, Wittenham Clumps
Oxfordshire's newest education/ visitor centre, run by the Northmoor Trust, lets you explore the past and present landscape, become a scientist, handle skeletons and meet the creatures that once roamed the countryside. Call 01865 409402 or visit the Project Timescape website: www.projecttimescape.co.uk

Roald Dahl Museum, Buckinghamshire
A phizz-whizzing venue for six to 12-year-olds exploring the world of Roald Dahl, the museum is based in Great Missenden where the author lived. It has interactive galleries, a story centre and a replica of his writing hut.For opening times call 01494 892192, or visit the website: www.roalddahlmuseum.org

Steam Museum, Swindon
Housed in a restored building in the former railway works, the museum tells the story of the men and women who built, operated and travelled on the Great Western Railway. The story is brought to life with films, interactive displays, famous locomotives and memorabilia. For information, call 01793 466646 or visit the website: www.steam-museum.org.uk

Stratford Butterfly Farm, Warwickshire
The UK's largest tropical butterfly paradise, makes a truly spectacular day out for all the family. Discover many of the world's most beautiful butterflies in an exotic environment, such as the silver morpho, from El Salvador in central America, which is the farm's largest butterfly, measuring about seven inches across. Visit the website: www.butterflyfarm.co.uk

Sulgrave Manor, near Banbury
A fine example of a modest manor house built in Shakespeare's time and which was home to the ancestors of George Washington. Guided tours include the great hall, kitchen and bedchamber, which have furniture and artifacts from the period. Call 01295 760205 or visit the website: www.sulgravemanor.org

Upton House and Gardens, near Banbury
A National Trust property, this 17th-century mansion contains an outstanding collection of English and Continental Old Master paintings and porcelain. It has terraced flower borders, water gardens and the national collection of asters. For opening times and admission prices call 01295 670266 or visit the website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Warwick Castle
One of England's finest medieval castles is home to the new £1m battle experience, which opened at Easter. The Dream of Battle is set within the ancient castle walls - where you can also visit the dungeon and climb the towers. For more details, call 0870 442 2000 or visit the website: www.warwick-castle.co.uk

Waddesdon, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
A grand house with grounds in the style of a 16th-century French chateau, built for the Rothschilds in the late 19th century. For details of opening times and admission prices, call 01296 653226 or visit the website: www.waddesdon.org

West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire
A drive-through safari and theme park where you can view some of the rarest animals in the world, including white rhinos, lions, elephants, Cape buffalo and leopards. For opening times and admission prices, call 01299 402114 or visit the website: www.wmsp.co.uk

Woburn Safari Park, Bedfordshire
A great day out for all the family who will enjoy a drive through reserves to see lions, tigers, rhinos, monkeys and black bears. There is also a foot safari around the Wild World where you can meet the animals. Call 01525 290407 or visit the website: www.woburnsafari.co.uk

Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, near Burford
Cotswold Wildlife Park is set in 160 acres of parkland and gardens around a listed Victorian manor house and has been open to the public since 1970. The park is home to a fascinating and varied collection of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates from all over the world. The park is open every day throughout the year (except Christmas Day) from 10am. For ticket prices call 01993 823006 or visit the website: www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

Cogges Manor Farm, Witney
Cogges is a unique, working museum depicting Oxfordshire rural life in Victorian times set in an historic manor house and Cotswold stone farm buildings. Explore the beautiful farmstead, original Cotswold buildings and displays about farming in years gone by. See traditional breeds of farm animals, talk to farm hands and dairymaids and watch them go about their daily work. For details of opening times and ticket prices call 01993 772602 or vist the website: www.witney.net

Cotswold Farm Park, near Guiting Power, Cheltenham
Established in 1971, the farm park can be aptly described as a pageant of history on four legs. Alongside the park's serious aims of conservation and education, visitors of all ages will find themselves easily entertained. On display is an unrivalled collection of rare breeds of British farm animals including sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, horses, poultry and waterfowl. Adam Henson, owner of the farm park, is also a presenter for the BBC Countryfile programme. For more details call 01451 850307 or visit the website: www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk

Alton Towers, Staffordshire
Step aboard a galleon in Mutiny Bay, enjoy the Caribbean themed water park, play extraordinary golf and stay at Splash Landings on this theme park resort which is home to many top white-knuckle rides and other family attractions. For more information, call 0871 222 9901 or visit the website: www.altontowers.com

Monkey Forest, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire
Unique in the UK, Trentham Monkey Forest is the home to 140 Barbary macaques which roam freely in 60 acres of forest. Visitors can literally step into their home! For admission prices and opening times, call 01782 659 845. or visit the website: www.monkey-forest.com

Westonbirt Arboretum, Near Tetbury, Gloucestershire
One of the most spectacular tree gardens' in the world, Westonbirt has a collection of more than 3,000 different trees and shrub species, many of which are rare or endangered in their native lands. Covering six hundred acres, the arboretum is an inspiring place to get back to nature. For more details, call 01666 880220, or visit the website: www.forestry.gov.uk

Legoland, Windsor
Ideal for children aged between three and 12, Legoland's new attractions include Land of the Vikings featuring the thrilling Longboat Invader ride. It also has models, live shows and many fun rides located in 150 acres of parkland. For more details, call 08705 040405, or visit the website: www.legoland.co.uk

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, near Aylesbury
Home to one of the largest collections of locomotives and railway memorabilia in the UK. For opening times, call 01296 655720 or visit the website: www.bucksrailcentre.org

For up-to-the-minute details of events and attractions in and around Oxfordshire, visit the websites www.oxfordmail.co.uk or www.banbury.co.uk