Norse rage
The war-like traits of Britain's Viking invaders are explored in Skullsplitter, a permanent exhibition using real warrior skeletons which opens today.
Open daily 9am-6pm. £5.65/£4.25 child. Jorvik Viking Centre, Coppergate, York (01904 643211).
Lowry dowry
The Lowry, the North's new visual and performing arts centre, contains the world's biggest collection by "the matchstick-men painter".
Open Mon-Wed 11am-5pm; Thurs-Sun 11am-8pm (Fri 10pm). Free. Harbour City, Salford Quays (0161-876 2000).
Bath Fringe
Edinburgh, eat your heart out. England's largest Fringe Festival roams the Georgian streets of Bath until June 11. Theatre, music, dance and comedy, much of it free.
Box Office: 01225 463362.
Simply bootiful
Combine the beauty of Holkham Hall, an 18th-century Palladian-style mansion set in a 3,000-acre deer park, with a barefoot walk along the pine-backed sands of Holkham Beach, Norfolk's finest.
Opens May 28, Sun-Thurs 1pm-5pm. £4/£2. Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk (01328 710227).
Whisky galore
A new visitor centre at Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery focuses on the history of the brand in a fun, interactive way.
Open daily 10am-5pm (Sun noon-4pm). £3.95/£2.50 child, family £10. Aberfeldy Distillery, Aberfeldy, Perthshire (01887 822010).
Wey to go
Family fun begins at Dapdune Wharf on the River Wey, with its picnic area, wildlife sanctuary and riverside trail, followed by a half-hour boat journey through Guildford to see newly-restored Millmead Lock in action.
Sat-Mon (plus June 1,3 and 4), 11am-5am. Wharf £2.50/£1 child, family £6. River bus £2 o/w. Wharf Road, Guildford, Surrey (01483-561389).
Wet and wild
London's new Wetland Centre is a mosaic of lakes, ponds and marshes over 105 acres on the site of four disused reservoirs in Barnes. Peter Scott Visitor Centre includes observatory discovery centre, art gallery, restaurant and shop.
Open daily 9.30am-6pm (Sun members only). £6.50/£4 child, family £17. Queen Elizabeth Walk, Barnes, London SW13 (020-8409 4400).
Animal farm
Lying side by side in a line on the grass as birds of prey swoop low over your head is all part of the display at Folly Farm. Adventure playgrounds, too, and as much petting and patting as possible.
Open daily 10am-5.30pm. £3.75/ £2.75 child. Birds of prey display twice daily except Sat. Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire (01834 812731).
