1 It is virtually on our doorstep, but Stonehenge’s status as perhaps the world’s most famous ancient monument means the sheer volume of visitors can become overwhelming. The best time to visit if you want to keep jostling to a minimum is on a Wednesdays at 4pm. Tickets cost £19 for adults, with a variety of deals and concessions available, and full details can be found at www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge

2 Dating back to shortly after the Norman Conquest, Warwick Castle has been through a number of incarnations during its long history, most recently as a country house and then as a fully-fledged visitor attraction. There are extensive grounds to stroll in, dungeons and towers to explore and a rolling programme of special events. The best time to visit is on Wednesday’s at 1pm. Its website is www.warwick-castle.com

3 The Eden Project - www.edenproject.com – at St Blazey is well beyond day trip range, but a very worthwhile destination during a stay in or near Cornwall. Perhaps unsurprisingly, those who prefer to enjoy its spectacular climate-controlled domes, which contain plant life from across the world, without feeling crowded should make the effort to be there by 9.30am on a Monday

4 Blenheim Palace - www.blenheimpalace.com – is the historic home of the Dukes of Marlborough and birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. As a major draw for visitors from all over the world, it can become crowded, especially during holiday periods. As with many of the attractions mentioned here, the general rule is that early arrival is the best way of avoiding the rush and enjoying the treasures in relative calm. Wednesdays at 9am are best of all.

5 Anybody hoping for a secluded visit to Windsor Castle - www.rct.uk/visit/windsorcastle - at any time during official opening hours is almost certain to be disappointed, but for some reason the crowds are at a minimum on Wednesdays at 2pm. In addition to architectural delights, the castle offers a fascinating exhibition of historic treasures. Visitors should note that airport-style security screening is in operation.

6 Like all London attractions, Kew Gardens - www.kew.org - are well within day trip range of the Swindon area. Established in 1840, it is the most famous location of its kind on the planet, and generally thought of as the greatest, with more than 30,000 individual types of plant and fungal life represented. The collection is distributed among a variety of large greenhouses, and other features include a popular treetop walkway. The best time to visit is on Wednesdays at 2.30pm.

7 Tickets for the relatively new but nevertheless iconic London landmark start at £27, but that doesn’t prevent it from being deluged with visitors eager to see our capital city from the best part of 450 feet in the air. People who come at 11am on Wednesdays face the shortest queues. There are also fast track tickets for people willing to pay a premium. Details can be found at www.londoneye.com

8 Free and frequently packed to the rafters with fascinated visitors, the Natural History Museum in London - www.nhm.ac.uk - is a must-see for anybody with an interest in the world around us as it was, as it is and as it shall be. Exhibitions span everything from earthquakes to evolution, and from the most enormous dinosaurs to the tiniest microscopic life forms. Many of the exhibits are geared toward telling visitors what everybody can do to conserve the world’s living things and natural resources. Wednesdays at 10am are the best time to visit.

9 The best time to visit Tower Bridge - www.towerbridge.org.uk – is at 9am on a Thursday. Sometimes described as the capital’s most iconic landmark, although Big Ben is surely also a contender, the bridge offers visitors the chance to discover the stories behind the architecture an the feats of engineering which made its existence possible.

10 The Tower of London - www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london - is almost always lacked with visitors, but 9am on Wednesdays seems to be the best bet for those who want to keep queueing to a minimum before exploring this national architectural and historic treasure whose most famous exhibits are the Crown Jewels, and whose keepers are living symbols of the city.