ANOTHER Bank Holiday weekend is here and people across erbyshire and beyond are looking for things to do – rain or shine.

Luckily, whatever your age and interest you will be spoilt for choice. And, if you want inspiration, we have plenty for you.

In this guide, you’ll find leisure ideas, events, shopping suggestions and places to eat out. So, whether you have a long weekend to look forward, or a full week off with the kids, let us help you make the most of your leisure time. To start with, here are 10 ideas:

Visit a theme park – Some of the best theme parks in the country are nearby including Drayton Manor Theme Park in Tamworth. This May half term you can take a trip to the Island of Sodor and see its new rides and attractions in Thomas Land. Become a member of the search and rescue team as you battle the blazes across Thomas Land on Flynn’s Fire Rescue or storm through the waves on Captain’s Sea Adventure.

Alternatively, try some heart-racing thrill rides. Scream as loud as you can on Apocalypse, fly through the air full throttle on stand-up coaster Shockwave and try not to get drenched on Stormforce 10.

Visit a Zoo – Still in Tamworth, Drayton Manor Zoo has some treats up its sleeve this half term Whether you’re crazy about big cats, mad about meerkats or rave about reptiles, a trip there will appeal to animal lovers of all ages.

Home to more than a 100 animal species from across the globe, the award-winning attraction in Staffordshire is celebrating National Zoo Week, a nationwide initiative operated by BIAZA (British and Irish association of Zoos and Aquariums) to encourage people to visit their zoos and learn about the good work they do. With a wide collection of creatures great and small, there has never been a better time to plan a visit to Drayton Manor Zoo, especially as, for the first time, it will hold a selection of creature feature workshops so visitors can discover more about the role of the zoo keeper and the importance of enriching and enhancing animal life, as well as nurturing their natural behaviour.

Throughout the week, sessions will include Look and Touch, to demonstrate the importance of checking the health of the animals as well as their enclosures, Chop and Feed, to highlight the benefits of a good diet, and Making Presents where visitors will work alongside the keeper to make enrichments to keep the zoo’s resident meerkat mob happy.

Young animal enthusiasts are in for a treat with the introduction of a new Zoo Club for eight to 12-year-olds. Launching on Saturday May 30 and running for six consecutive Saturdays until July 4, the weekly club will run from 9.30am to 12.30pm. To find out more, visit draytonmanor.co.uk.

Steam into history – Claymills Victorian Pumping Station in nearby Burton is opening its doors once again on Sunday and Monday from 10am-5pm. You’ll find two large beam engines five storeys high, a boiler house with five Lancashire boilers, a steam powered engineering workshop, blacksmith’s forge and joiner’s shop. There is also a working Victorian bath house, plus 24 original working stationary steam engines. Fun for the family will include a follow-the-rat trail, blacksmith and woodworking demonstrations, tombola and a second-hand book stall. Meanwhile children can enjoy miniature traction engine rides. Adults £5, concessions £4, children £2, family £12. The pumping station is in Meadow Lane, Stretton, Burton, DE13 0DA. More details at claymills.org.uk.

Visit a market – We all love markets and car boots and the area offers plenty. One of the best known is Donington Sunday Market and Car Boot but this Sunday it is taking a break due to World Super Bikes at Donington. But never fear, it will be back on Sunday May 31. On Monday Ashbourne Town Hall will host a vintage and flea market, £1, 10am-4pm.

Go antique hunting – Blame it on the Antiques Roadshow or fellow TV show Bargain Hunt, but the British are a nation of antiques lovers. If you are in that happy band then you can feed your passion this weekend. Derby Roundhouse will host an Antiques and Collectors Fair tomorrow (9am-4.30pm) and Sunday (10am-4.30pm). Entrance is £5 for adults, £4 for seniors, accompanied under 16s free. It also provides an opportunity to visit the Roundhouse, a Grade II* listed building, built in 1839. It is the world’s first and oldest surviving railway roundhouse. Find it at Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8JE.

On the same theme, you will also find an antiques and collectors fair at Hood Park Leisure Centre in Ashby De La Zouch on Monday, 9am-4pm, admission £1.50, £1.20 concessions.

Visit a stately home – When it comes to stately homes, Derbyshire has some National Trust gems, which put on special events throughout the summer. In the week ahead you can help your children start ticking off their ’50 things to do before you’re 11¾’ challenges at Kedleston Hall and Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood.

At Kedleston you can book on to a free 50 Things walk on May 25, 27, 29 or 31, starting at 11am from the loggia in the pleasure grounds. Wellies at the ready as it could be muddy. Booking essential on 01332 842191. Plus, there will be 50 Things quiz trails round the gardens from May 23-31.

From May 25-31 you can build a mini raft and see if it floats, 11am – 3pm for a £1 donation.

Sudbury Hall and the Museum of Childhood will host a 50 Things challenge trail round the grounds and garden from May 25-29, 12 noon-4pm. Booklets will be available from the Museum of Childhood reception and at the Craft Tent in the stable yard. Trails cost 20p each. Family crafts inspired by nursery rhymes and fairy tales will take place in the Craft Tent in the stable yard from May 26-29, 12 noon-4pm, £1.

For more details, please go to nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston or call 01332 842191. For Sudbury visit nationaltrust.org.uk/sudburyhall or call 01283 585337.

Enjoy a train ride – Over the bank holiday weekend, from tomorrow until Monday, the Midland Railway at Butterley will be running a Friendly Engines event that will include several locomotive characters such as Taffy.

Taffy was built more than 100 years ago and has had a history of pulling coal, steel and now passengers. Visitors will be able to help give Taffy a drink and see a special play starring Taffy, a not so friendly diesel, the railway director, a narrow gauge engine and Kimberley the bus. Also on show will be visiting loco 985, which used to work at nearby Bentinck Colliery. Trains will run from 11am at Butterley Station, Ripley. To find out more, call 01773 747674 or visit midlandrailway-butterley.co.uk.

Get crafty – Derby’s Quad arts centre has plenty of events to liven up Whitsun. For example, there will be a free, drop-in activity day of craft and making for families. Make And Take Day is a chance to visit Quad and be inspired with any materials you like and to make whatever you like. There will be lots of materials available. Those taking part just need to bring their imagination and can take their creations home afterwards. Make And Take Day is on Friday May 29, 10am- 4pm, no need to book. To find out more, visit derbyquad.co.uk.

Go to the races – Uttoxeter Racecourse is offering families the chance to be first past the post this bank holiday weekend by joining a family fun day on Sunday. You will find inflatables, fairground rides, pony rides, crazy golf and a play trailer for the kids as well as picnic areas. The day begins at midday, with the first race scheduled for 2pm and the last at 5.20pm. Admission prices start from £10, accompanied under 18s free. Buy tickets at uttoxeter-racecourse.co.uk or on 01889 562561.

Well dressings – This Derbyshire tradition is always a feast for the eye and, from tomorrow, well dressings made in the village of Monyash will be aired. Three wells are dressed, two by children. Refreshments will be available at the Bull’s Head Pub or at Smithy Cafe. A blessing service will be held in Chapel Street tomorrow at 2pm. The creations will be on show until June 1. Details on 01629 813227.