Sunhill Farm Campsite

Being out in the countryside means you may well spot some wildlife and farm animals as you wander locally, but if the beasts you’ve encountered nearby aren’t big enough for your liking you’ll want to head over to Woburn Safari Park (25 minutes’ drive), where you can come face to face with elephants, giraffes, lions and other sizeable creatures. If those aforementioned fantasies of building your own pad persist, take a trip to Waddesdon Manor (20 minutes), to see how bon viveur Baron de Rothschild got on with his own project (hint: he filled it with art and wine – both excellent choices). There’s a similar flamboyant estate to explore at Stowe (half an hour), where the gardens were designed by one Capability Brown. For more tributes to triumphs of human endeavour, head to Buckinghamshire Railway Centre or Bletchley Park (both 15 minutes) or scoot over to see the speed demons take to the track at Silverstone (half an hour). If you want that speedy thrill for yourself, try out the indoor skydiving centre or Snozone ski centre in Milton Keynes (25 minutes).