West midlands safari

You drive through the gates and suddenly there are giraffes. Proper giraffes, just wandering about while you're still in your car. West Midlands Safari, near Stafford, lets you do the whole drive-through thing - lions, zebras, rhinos all moving about as you roll past. It's not your typical zoo where everything's behind glass and railings.

The park works as a drive-through attraction first, which means you can stay in your vehicle or get out and walk the grounds depending on what you fancy. Kids absolutely love the drive-through bit - there's something about seeing these animals without barriers that gets them properly engaged. It takes a good couple of hours to do it properly, longer if you stop for photos and feeding opportunities. Adults who aren't animal obsessives might find it a bit repetitive after the first hour, if I'm honest.

You're well positioned if you're based at any of the nearby caravan parks - Pillaton Hall Farm is only 2.4 miles away, and Cannock Chase Camping is 6.1 miles if you want to be on Cannock Chase itself. It's the sort of attraction that works brilliantly as a half-day addition to a park-based holiday rather than a full day out on its own. Plan for an afternoon visit, grab a bite at the on-site facilities, then head back to your pitch.

Best visited on a weekday if possible - weekends get rammed and the drive-through experience loses something when you're bumper-to-bumper with other cars. Admission isn't free, but it's reasonable for what you get.