Our holiday cottage locations are so full of fabulous days out and attractions that it’s difficult to narrow down our ‘hidden gems’ to just a few recommendations! 

However, in the spirit of sharing, our team at Staycation has come up with some of England’s secret attractions to seek out near our holiday cottages.

So why not venture off the beaten track and try some of these less famous (and much better for it) attractions next time you book?

The Brecks, Norfolk

Jack Jones’s Van, The Charles Burrell Museum, Thetford by Peter Trimming

If you’re staying at Vicarage House, or both Vicarage House & Pool House, you're not far from many of England's secret attractions. A trip to St. George’s Distillery, just four miles away, is well worth an afternoon of your time. England’s only whisky distillery, the English Whisky Co. is a craft operation using local ingredients. Could it take on the Scots at their own game? Why not book a tour and we’ll let you decide!
 
For fun, education and nostalgia all wrapped up in one pleasurable package, don’t miss the Dad’s Army Museum at Thetford, 15 minutes’ drive away. It’s a lovely little museum, free to enter and with lots of props from the original series which was filmed in the area.
 
Or go underground – the fascinating Grime’s Graves, 20 minutes’ drive from Vicarage House, is the only prehistoric flint mine open to visitors in Britain. Of extraordinary size and scope, it’s amazing to consider that Neolithic miners were able to sink shafts 30 feet below the surface using only antlers and animal shoulder blades for shovels!

South East Cornwall

Lantic Bay and Pencarrow Head by Tom Bastin

In the spirit of searching out England's secret attractions that you might otherwise miss, we can suggest the Hidden Valley Discovery Park & Landscaped Gardens at Launceston. This gem of a family day out, about 40 minutes’ drive from our south east Cornwall holiday cottages, is based around solving clues on various treasure trails. It’s the sort of day out that you think you are going on for the kids’ benefit and then find yourself completely wrapped up in the adventure.
 
If you’re looking for a secluded beach during your stay, we recommend the gorgeous beach at Lantic Bay, 11-15 miles from our holiday cottages. You may need to pack a picnic and wear some sensible shoes to get there, but the reward will be your very own little patch of pristine sands. The trek down is steep and takes around 25 minutes from the nearest National Trust car park. No loos, no café, very little shade – just white pebbled sand, spectacular views of Pencarrow Head, rock pools, clear water and a handful of people. It’s perfect for the romantically inclined and an adventure for the kids.

North Somerset

© Yeo Valley Organic Garden

Our wonderful Somerset cottages at Webbington Farm are just 20 minutes’ drive from the lovingly created Yeo Valley Organic Garden, tucked away in the beautiful Mendip Hills, overlooking Blagdon Lake. One of England's secret attractions, it's a unique place to refresh and revive – leave time to eat at the excellent Garden café serving delicious homemade lunches and afternoon teas (all organic of course!). The garden is open on Thursdays and Fridays, 11am – 5pm, until September 30 2016.

South Gloucestershire

Malmesbury Abbey by Peter

If you can drag yourself away from the wonderful facilities at our Cotswold Water Park Lodges, give Malmesbury Abbey a whirl. This beautiful building, packed with history is just 20 minutes' drive away. Here, Henry Moore ranked the tympanum and reliefs which adorn the porch among ‘the finest and most complete works of Romanesque art in England – and equal to the greatest French examples’. Check out the gravestone for a girl eaten by a tiger, acknowledge that the first king of England is buried here and that Elmer the Flying Monk flew (or plummeted) from its once mighty tower. Unusually dogs are allowed in all areas of the abbey and they’ll also appreciate a lovely walk along the river afterwards.
 
Some of England's secret attractions you want to tell people about; others you want to keep all to yourself. Stunning Woodchester Mansion and Park, near Nympsfield is one such place. A Victorian mansion deep in a Cotswold valley that was never completed, the workmen’s tools are still there. If you’re interested in old buildings (especially slightly spooky ones), or history, or bats, then it’s well worth a visit. The Grade I listed house, a 40-minute drive from Henfield Barn and our Cotswold Water Park Lodges, is situated in the 400-acre Woodchester Park SSSI which offers lovely walking for children and dogs in woods with lakes and other unexpected finds on the way.

Herefordshire

© Theatre of Small Convenience

If you’re staying at Hampton Wafre Cottage, put The Theatre of Small Convenience in Great Malvern on your agenda! This old Victorian gentleman’s lavatory has been transformed into the world’s smallest theatre with an audience capacity of 12! It puts on a variety of short puppetry, poetry and storytelling shows for less than the price of a coffee. Open every Saturday, and Wednesdays – Saturdays during the school holidays, the present show, Quackery Codswallop is six minutes of nonsense for ages 4 – 104. Only half an hour distant from our holiday home, kids and adults alike are enchanted by this unique and quirky little place. It’s one of England's secret attractions - and an unmissable treat!

Kent

Belmont Gardens by MattLake

Calling horologists and horticulturalists! Belmont House and Gardens is one of England's secret attractions in East Kent. The amazing hidden gem, tucked away down many a winding country lane, is only 8 miles from Manor Farmhouse. Spend ‘time’ on a fascinating house tour (on Wednesdays and during summer weekends) with treasures including the finest private collection of clocks and watches in Britain. The beautiful gardens are a treat for green-fingered fans (and dogs) too, plus somewhere to get tea and a cake with an honesty box when the house is closed…how often do you see that these days? 

A trip to Doddington Place Gardens is full of surprises so we won’t spoil it for you here. Just 10 minutes’ drive from Manor Farmhouse, free parking, spectacular gardens and fabulous tea rooms await. And you’ll probably have the bonus of seeing the Hawking Birds of Prey display thrown in to make for a great afternoon out.

East Sussex

‘Mad’ Jack Fuller’s tomb by Plumbago

Full of history and improbable tales, check out ‘Mad’ Jack Fuller’s Pyramid in Brightling, one of England's secret attractions. This 25 foot high mausoleum built in 1811, twenty-three years before his death, stands in the churchyard of St. Thomas à Becket. Sadly, renovators who entered the tomb in 1982 had to dispel the long-standing local legend that Fuller’s corpse was, at his request, seated at a dining table inside, with a roast chicken and bottle of wine! Why not stay at Brooks Lodge and explore this eccentric MP’s many other follies on a walk through Brightling Park which he once owned, all with colourful tales your kids will lap up! 

What else?

You’ll find lots of suggestions for days out and more of England’s secret attractions in our ‘Things to Do & Events’ section for each property listing. In the meantime, if you have any suggestions of your own for an overlooked yet wonderful little gem, why not head over to our Facebook page and let us in on your secret?