With the school holidays just round the corner, many parents will be looking for ways to keep their little angels amused over the long break, while others will just want to head out and enjoy their precious weekends.

But, whether you are desperately trying to keep the children out of trouble, or you just fancy spending a day doing something out of the ordinary, the internet is the perfect place to start looking for ideas.

So, before you head out into the sunshine, fire up your browser first and take a virtual tour through some of the sites we've visited.

City limits
A day out in the city is perfect if you're unsure of the weather. You can stay outside if the weather is fine, enjoying the parks, the landmarks, or even just a drink and a snack sitting outside a nice little cafe.

And, if the weather disappoints, you are never too far from indoor attractions such as museums, cinemas, theatres and the shops.

The listings magazine Time Out is something of a bible for anyone who wants to go out in London. Its website also covers Dublin and Edinburgh among others, with suggestions for pubs, bars and restaurants to enjoy.

You can even download the whole of the latest issue of London Time Out straight to your PC for £2.35, courtesy of www.newsstand.com. Mac owners will be glad to hear that a version of this facility will be available for them in the very near future.

Anyone who lives in or near London and thinks they've seen all the city has to offer should take a peek at Historic Days Out in London, which offers suggestions for some slightly more off-beat places to put on your itinerary, including the Old Operating Theatre Museum.

The site frequently attempts to plug its author's books, but it also gives an insight into some different places to visit, with suitable hyperlinks to follow up. For more ideas, the London Tourist Board is also a good place to look.

If you're only in the capital for the day, the Transport for London is a handy resource for checking out how to get around on the city's trains and buses. There's even advice on how to do London by bike.

Of course, the UK has plenty of fine cities as well as London. You can find out what's happening in Edinburgh, for example, by asking The Oracle. You'll find suggestions for kids' events, restaurants, exhibitions and attractions at this easy-to-navigate site which gives options for finding events today, this week, this month, or next month and later.

The beautiful walled city of Chester is also well worth a visit. Find out why at www.chester.com, where a handy itinerary for a full day out in the city is included. Similarly, for ideas on how to spend your time in nearby Manchester, check out the city's website here. As befits a thriving metropolis, the site is crammed full of listings for music, theatre, the arts, clubs and plenty more. There are also links to nearby attractions.

Indeed, there are home-pages and websites relevant to most towns and cities in the UK. Pay a visit to Yahoo's directory and browse through the UK from Abbots Langley to York.

Country living
After all the hustle and bustle of a day in the city you might want to take in some clean air and get back to nature. Great Britain has, of course, some of the most beautiful countryside in the world.

Take the North Yorkshire moors, for example. Head to Herriot Days Out, named after the world's most famous vet. You'll find details about how to find the original Skeldale house in Thirsk - where real-life James Herriot (alias Alf Wight) had his surgery - as well as other attractions in the area.

Take some advice about your day out from the National Trust, or choose from more than 1,000 UK woods at the Woodland Trust. Here, an easy-to-use key identifies different varieties of woodlands, whether parking is easy and if they are particularly known for good spring or autumn colour.

The Forestry Commission also lets you browse for a forest near you, with added info on wildlife you might encounter. If you like your flora rather more tamed and cultivated, why not head out to one of the many gardens open to visitors? Let's Go Gardening has a good selection to visit.

Beside the seaside
Now that so many of us are able to go abroad to sun ourselves on beach holidays, we often forget that our little island has some very attractive coastline of its own. Thankfully, there are plenty of websites to help you remember how much fun a trip to a great British beach can be.

Brighton is a swinging city in its own right these days, but it's still also a seaside resort with lots to offer couples, families and children. Find out more here.

Whichever UK coastline you find yourself visiting, you might want to assure yourself that the water is safe before you dip your toes into it. Put your mind at rest with a visit to the Good Beach Guide and the Encams Seaside Awards, where you'll learn which beaches have won awards for cleanliness and safety.

Remember that a day by the seaside doesn't always have to involve shingle and ice cream. Instead, you could pay a visit to one of the excellent Sea Life centres and find out more about the world beneath the waves.

Across the water
These days you don't have to stop at the coast. Thanks to Eurostar, you can head off for a day out in one of our neighbouring European countries. It's entirely possible to head off early in the morning and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Paris, and be back in Blighty before bedtime. Log on to Eurostar for prices, timetables and special offers.

If you are happier going over the water, rather than under it, you can book a trip on a ferry at Ferry Booker and make a day out of a visit to the hypermarket to stock up on wines, cigarettes or whatever else takes your fancy.

Walk on the wild side
There are, of course, plenty of theme parks and attractions back in the UK. How about a trip to the zoo or to a safari park, for example? Whipsnade Wild Animal Park is the country cousin of London Zoo, and a great day out in its own right. There's even a webcam at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park, where you can see the park's free-roaming lemurs. To find a zoo or animal park near you, go to Zoowatch.

Thrill-seekers
For even more of a kid-centric day out, try a visit to one of the UK's hugely popular theme parks. Many allow you to book online to avoid queuing at the gates, and you will also find special discounts listed on some theme park home-pages. If you (or the kids) are serious about your rides, check out how they rate at the Ride Guide before you book your trip.

The usual suspects, such as Alton Towers, Chessington and Blackpool Pleasure Beach all have their own online presence, with details of the big attractions as well as info on how to get there. You could also try Thorpe Park, Adventure Island, Flambards, American Adventure and Scotland's Theme Park.

Height restrictions at theme parks make them a no-go for smaller children, but the Gulliver's parks are specially designed with littler ones in mind, while Legoland has plenty to amuse people who aren't keen on rides. See below for more ideas on days out with the kids.

Indoor alternatives
Outdoor parks and zoos are all very well when the weather's good, but aren't always quite so much fun on a day when the rain comes down in buckets. That's where museums and exhibitions come in.

For a gateway to the nation's museums and galleries, there's a great resource at 24 Hour Museum which highlights new exhibitions at museums around the country, along with the latest news, and an excellent interactive section for the kids. If they whinge about 'boring' museums, send them to this part of the site and you'll soon have them convinced.

Once upon a time, trudging around the country's stately homes would have filled children with dread. Nowadays, while the beautiful old furnishings and art of old are still protected, organisations such as the National Trust and English Heritage organise a whole host of events at their properties.

From music festivals, to plant fairs, to events just for the kids, it's worth checking out both of these sites for news of what's on offer. And if you're in Wales, make the most of the country's rich heritage by choosing a castle to visit at Castles Of Wales.

What's on when
Over the summer there are all sorts of one-off events going on around the UK. So as not to miss out, bookmark sites such as What's on When and keep up to date with everything that's happening in your area or further afield.

The web caters for just about every taste and preference you can imagine. Fancy a day out at a country show? Then check Country Life's online guide. If rural crafts are more your thing, then take a look at the Living Heritage site.

Additionally, there are several sites that specialise in listing all sorts of different attractions and events up and down the country. Most of these can be searched by date, attraction type and by the distance away from where you live. Some of our favourites include Visit England, Visit Britain and Days Out Atlas.

And if you're counting the pennies, choose from a variety of free options at Mrs Free UK, or download money-off vouchers from Days Out UK.

Route master
Planning your route on the net is easy and can make for a blissfully stress-free start to your day out. The three main motoring organisations, including the AA, all have route planners that work well. It's worth giving them all a go to find which works best for you.

Green Flag has to-the-door directions for the local parts of the journey, while the RAC's instructions on main roads are very easy to follow. While you're at it, don't forget to print off directions for the journey home!

If you're letting the train take the strain, you can work out your journey via the National Rail website, where you can find out what trains you need to catch to get to your desired destination on time and book tickets online. There are also links to individual railway companies for timetable, station and engineering work information.

Grown-up fun
Fancy a relaxing day, with beauty treatments, massages, a long, lazy lunch, and the chance to have a swim? Try Spa Seekers, which offers a variety of pampering day packages - including one for groups and one aimed specially at men - at a spa of your choice.

Adults who are on the lookout for something a bit different could consider a day learning how to fly falcons, hawks, owls and other birds of prey - and even have a go themselves. At the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Andover it's only £90 per person.

Kids' stuff
When you're taking children out for the day, it pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve. The more you keep them amused, the less likelihood there is that they'll be bored, and the less the risk of tears and tantrums.

It also pays to learn from the experiences of other parents, so it's worth paying a visit to sites such as ivillage, which has a section on days out with the kids. Try the Family Travel message board, too, where you can swap ideas with other parents.

The Travel Guardian website has a useful feature on 20 places for days out with the kids for under £20, while 4 or More also offers inspiration for budget days out.

Families Online suggests some great days out for little ones, and Kids Travel, meanwhile, lists days out by area. Once they get home, the children can even post their own reviews of favourite days out for other kids to read.