Malton

Yorkshire’s self-styled "food capital", has some idyllic trips to offer: take a bus into the wooded wolds for a picnic or a boat round Castle Howard’s Great Lake from a vine-fringed tearoom veranda.

Scampston Hall & Gardens

A stunning contemporary walled garden, nestled within the grounds of regency-style Scampston Hall

Car-free offer: Phone for details: 01944 759111

Daffodils

Shakespeare’s Perdita longs for daffodils that “take/The winds of March with beauty”; here are six places to see daffs without a car.

Westonbirt The National Arboretum

Experience around 2500 different species of trees from all over the world

Car-free offer: 30% off entry with valid train or bus ticket, or bike

RHS Garden Wisley

Flagship garden of the RHS and one of the great gardens of the world

Car-free offer: 25% discount on entry with train/bus ticket or bike

Brockhole

Lake District visitor centre, with lots outdoor activities including watersports and free adventure playground

Car-free offer: 10% off in Brockhole shop with bus ticket. Free Bike Boat ticket when you hire a bike at Brockhole.

Car-free Monmouth

Wander in the hills, canoe along the river, or enjoy ice creams, bakeries and an award-winning vineyard around this historic market town, birthplace of Henry V.

Northallerton

Catch a bus from Northallerton and climb into wild, open countryside. Visit Mount Grace Priory or cycle around Swainby and return in time for tea.

Leicester

Space rockets and King Richard III, spicy food and sequinned saris… the city of Leicester is a varied and fascinating destination, spanning continents and centuries.

Derby

Discover Derby’s award-winning riverside pubs and brick textile mills, its light-filled cathedral and green parks. A birthplace of the industrial revolution, a centre for craft breweries, and a gateway to the beautiful landscape of the Peak District.

Harewood House

Harewood sits in the heart of Yorkshire and is one of the Treasure Houses of England

Car-free offer: 50% off when you come by bus

Huntingdon

An hour from London by train, there are some hidden gems hiding here among the thatched villages beside the River Ouse.

Nottingham guide

Nottingham is a great place to explore by bus, tram or on foot: caves and pubs, museums and galleries, flowering parks and pretty shopping streets.

Towner Art Gallery

A welcoming art gallery presenting world class exhibitions of modern, contemporary and historic art and events for all ages.

Car-free offer: 10% off ticketed exhibitions. Entry to the gallery is free.

Richmond

Explore Kew Gardens, Hampton Court or the villa JMW Turner designed for himself. Richmond offers scenic riverside walks, panoramic views and deer parks.

Aylesbury

Waddesdon Manor, a Victorian chateau hung with 18th-century art, is just outside Aylesbury. The town has galleries celebrating Roald Dahl’s stories, a monument to David Bowie, and lots of woodland walks.