I have only just found this out, but apparently when research earlier this year showed that British families were not spending enough quality time together, the roadside restaurant chain Little Chef decided to do something about it and launched its Bring Back Family Days Out campaign. Public nominations flooded in, with families sharing their personal favourites, including both high profile attractions and places off the beaten track.
So I tripped over the results and scanned the nations top 50 for what's available locally. Not bad! Congratulations to Heights of Abraham espcially! Take a look . . .
The Top 51 Days Out
1 The Forbidden Corner
2 Brighton Pier
3 Day out in York
4 Alton Towers
5 Legoland Windsor
6 Ironbridge Gorge Museum
7 Blackpool Pleasure Beach
8 Natural History Museum
9 Alnwick Castle
10 Towneley Hall Estate & Park
11 London Zoo
12 Chessington World of Adventures
13 Chester Zoo
14 Eden Project
15 Cadbury World
16 Keswick
17 Drayton Manor Theme Park
18 Heights of Abraham
19 Longleat House & Safari Park
20 Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
21 Leeds Castle
22 Warwick Castle
23 Magna
24 Lost Gardens of Heligan
25 Wroxham/Hoveton/Norfolk Broads
26 Charmouth Beach
27 Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park
28 Glasgow Science Centre
29 Twycross Zoo
30 Ellesmere Port Boat Museum
31 Camperdown Country Park
32 Aberdeen Maritime Museum
33 Courtroom Experience
34 East Somerset Railway
35 Howletts Wild Animal Park
36 Carlisle Castle
37 Cannon Hall
38 Cambridge University Botanic Garden
39 Salcey Forest
40 RSPB Conwy Nature Reserve
41 Carsington Water
42 Look Out Discovery Centre
43 Hatfield House
44 St Leonards Farm Park
45 Nature in Art
46 National Forest Llama Trek
47 Abbotsbury Swannery
48 Markeaton Park, Derby
49 Woking Lightbox
50 Lichfield's Children's Trail
51 Moss Bank Park
If you have a local favourite that didn't make it onto this list then please share it with us at thebestof Matlock.