Free days out with the National Lottery

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See works of art in a new light – sunlight. Wander through open-air galleries and marvel at huge contemporary sculptures spread across 500 acres of green parkland. The current exhibition sees the park dotted with oversized everyday items including a handbag and a hot water bottle (both have legs!).

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Surround yourself with spring blooms at this botanical beauty near Newcastle. The 18th-century gardens were created by Georgian coal baron George Bowes and include miles of woodland walks, an orangery and a gorgeous walled garden to get lost in.

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Opt for peace and quiet, with some birdsong thrown in too, at this serene spot on the south Kent coast. Keep an eye out for a diverse array of wildlife hidden amongst this dramatic stretch of shingle, including Goldeneye Ducks, Marsh Harriers, Herons and Firecrests and many other rare species that visit throughout the year.

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Set on the shores of England's largest lake, this museum showcases a fascinating collection of boats and exhibits. It’s a charming place where you can learn more about the Lake District’s boat building heritage and admire the beauty of Windermere.

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Immerse yourself in Norwich's vibrant heritage and arts scene. Perched atop Castle Hill, this former royal palace was founded by William the Conqueror and is filled with fantastic treasures including the Wider World Gallery, natural history galleries and Egyptian collections.

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Journey to one of England’s most remote castles. Built in the mid-1500s and used as a strategic fort during the Scottish Wars, it was later transformed into Edwardian holiday home. Now managed by the National Trust, explore narrow passageways, have a peek inside the candlelit kitchen and gaze out to sea from the Upper Battery. 

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Explore an eclectic collection of art and artifacts at the Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, housed in a Victorian villa overlooking the sea. This Gothic building features four elegant  galleries, a stone grotto and a Japanese garden with a bridge, fountain and goldfish ponds. 

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Step back into Edwardian times, at this countryside mansion. Pride and Prejudice fans can visit the famous lake where Mr. Darcy emerges, dripping, from the water. If that’s not enough to tempt you, perhaps the herd of red and fallow deer found grazing on the expansive estate will – and that’s before you go into the house itself.

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Vintage geeks and Peaky Blinder fans will love this experiential museum. Walk in the footsteps of Tommy Shelby and then travel to the 1950s to rock along to records at Standon’s Music Shop and then tuck into old-school sweets from Burgin’s Newsagents.

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Have you ever wanted to see what work goes into keeping us safe? Delve into the fascinating world of emergency services at this unique museum and learn about the heroes who have risked their lives for us over hundreds of years.

Dive into Newcastle’s legacies and see Roman history come to life at Segedunum Roman Fort and Museum in Wallsend, where you can get a taste of life as a Roman and a chance to see a part of historic Hadrian's Wall ruins, fort and bathhouse.

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Step into a real-life period drama at this Jacobean mansion. Walk in the footsteps of Victorian servants in the kitchens and then see how the ‘other half’ lived in the grand chambers above. The adventure continues outside where you’ll discover a stable yard with horses, organic fruit and veg growing in the kitchen garden and award-winning gardens and Capability Brown-designed parkland.

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Go behind the scenes of one of the world's most renowned theatre companies with a guided tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company's building. Explore areas not usually open to the public such as the backstage areas, the state-of-the-art Costume Workshop or get a first glimpse of the newly renovated Swan Theatre. 

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Wander through 90 acres of Wrest Park's magnificent gardens and explore the grandeur of the historic mansion, before taking a well-deserved refreshment break in the café. The kids can even blow off steam on the climbing equipment and zipline.

If you like combining nature with the fun of model railways, Peterborough’s former coal yard-turned-urban oasis is a landscaped haven with specially built ponds and waterfalls to improve biodiversity. Chuffing through the greenery are model trains, which take in 2,000  square metres of track – look out for the stationary Hovertrain above!

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There’s more to Dover than just its cliffs. It’s also home to an iconic castle packed with a fascinating history dating back to 1066. Step back in time through the different eras of the castle, from the Norman Conquest to Dunkirk, or scurry through its eerie underground tunnels on an escape room experience. 

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Discover tropical jungles, Mediterranean deserts and English gardens at The Eden Project in Cornwall. England’s indoor rainforest is the world’s largest set of geodesic domes and is also 
the largest indoor rainforest in the world.