English Heritage keeps the nation's best ruins; the National Trust and the Historic Houses Association the best houses, many of which have rompable grounds 1. La Ronde, Exmouth, Devon Quirky 18th-century house with 16 sides, built by two spinsters on return from Grand Tour. Interior includes feather frieze and shell-encrusted gallery Booking essential Open: Sun-Thur, 11am £4.50; child, £2.20 (01395 265514).2. Batemans, Etchingham, East SussexRudyard Kipling's home, including the study where he wrote, reflecting strong associations with India The grounds run down to a river with watermill Open: Sat-Wed, 11am. The kids preferred the barn the vehicles were housed in, and spent the party rolling around and throwing straw at each other. It's hard to plan things like that."New Lymington and New Forest Visitor Information Centre (01590 689000) Open: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm..
20 ideas with an historic theme. Ruins are generally a better bet than stately homes, there being a limit to the joy a seven-year-old can extract from the pleasing proportions of an Adam fireplace Let them just romp and imagine in a castle or an old abbey. We hired a villa where everything was indestructible, there were other families next door and the children could play together."In the UK, the New Forest gave us our best holiday. Once I hired some old-fashioned coaches and carriages for my daughter's birthday party. My children adored the beach, whether sand, pebbles or rock pools.
Our favourite resort was in Corfu, which has fantastic beaches for kids. Swanage Railway (The Purbeck Line), Swanage, Dorset Runs more than six miles between Swanage and Norden, through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, passing the ruins of Corfe Castle.Open: daily All line fares: £7.50; concessions, £5.50; family, £21 (01929 425800).18. Talyllyn Railway, Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd Narrow-gauge over seven miles of Mid-Wales scenery through the following evocative stations: Tywyn Wharf, Rhydyronen, Dolgoch Falls, Abergynolwyn, Nant Gwernol.Open: daily. Day rover: £10; child 5-15, £2 (travelling with adult on rover ticket) (01654 710472).19. Welshpool & Llanfair RailwayRuns from Welshpool to Llanfair Caereinion on 2ft 6in gauge track.Tight curves, steep inclines on what was originally Cambrian Railways line.Open: daily in holidays. Full return: £9.90; first child aged 3-15, with adult, £1, all other children aged over three, £4.95; senior and National Trust members, £8.90 (01938 810 441).20.
