Birdworld

You'll spend a good couple of hours watching over 200 bird species at this zoo just outside Farnham. It's genuinely engaging stuff - not the sort of place where you shuffle past enclosures feeling a bit underwhelmed. The aviaries are well-designed, which makes a real difference when you're trying to actually see the birds rather than them hiding in the back corner.

Families with younger kids will get the most out of it. There's enough to keep them interested without it being exhausting, and the staff actually seem to know their stuff. If you're into birdwatching or just fancy something different from the usual zoo experience, this works well. Adults without children might find an hour and a half is enough, though serious ornithology types could easily spend longer.

The area around Farnham is proper walking country, so you could combine this with a proper ramble through the Surrey Hills. Staying at one of the nearby parks makes sense - Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat is closest at just over four miles away, or Feather Down Manor Farm if you want a bit more countryside immersion. Neither is far enough to feel like a hassle for an afternoon visit.

Bring binoculars if you've got them. The layout means you're sometimes looking into the light, so decent optics help. It's the sort of attraction that rewards paying attention rather than just wandering through.