Biggleswade
Shuttleworth Collection & Garden · Photo: David P Howard
Hangars of old aeroplanes, many still airworthy, at Old Warden in the morning, then an English Heritage mansion with long garden vistas, woodland paths and a walled-garden cafe.
Railway · 10:00–12:30 (2h30m)
Hangars first, then the Swiss Garden if time allows.
An indoor and outdoor heritage railway in Biggleswade.
Photo: David P Howard
Nature & gardens · 13:15–16:00 (2h45m)
Lunch at the walled-garden cafe, then walk to the Long Water.
An English Heritage French-style mansion with 300 years of formal gardens, woodland paths and garden buildings, plus a children's play area and a cafe in the walled garden.
Photo: Nigel Cox
East of EnglandCambridge city centre
Three free university museums sit within a ten-minute walk of each other in central Cambridge, so a wet day costs nothing but lunch. Start under the giant whale skeleton, eat at the Fitzwilliam's courtyard cafe, then finish with sledges and snow goggles at the Polar Museum.
University Museum of Zoology → The Fitzwilliam Museum → The Polar Museum
East of EnglandCambridge
Flat garden paths and glasshouses in the morning suit buggies and new walkers, and under-17s get in free. After lunch, swap to the woods at Wandlebury for den-building and space to run.
Cambridge University Botanic Garden → Wandlebury Country Park
East of EnglandEly
Climb into the medieval roof spaces of Ely Cathedral in the morning, then cycle or walk the flat droves of Wicken Fen, the National Trust's oldest nature reserve. Under-16s visit the cathedral free with family.
Ely Cathedral → Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve
