The title translates as penguins for those of you without toddlers. As I write this, my 2 and a half year old is sitting on my knee waving to the picture of the monkey!

If you've got kids, you need to go Twycross Zoo. Just off the M69 junction 1 and on the A444 (all signposted). It's quite reasonable to get in - £6.50 for adults, £4.50 for children and under 3's are free. Once you've parked the car, you're free to come and go as you like, so there's no need to carry the picnic all around the park.

In it's favour, the zoo has a wonderful collection of animals, everything from lizards and crocodiles to giraffes and elephants. There's also a massive collection of monkeys of every kind and description, which is wonderful in one way but a bit boring for small kiddies when every cage you go past has yet a nother monkey in it.

There are a couple of gift shops and a cafe, but the place hasn't been massively commercialised. It's run the Twycross Zoological Society and is a charitable organisation, so prices are quite reasonable.

It's definetly a great day out for kiddies. There's quite a few open places so they can have a good run round and tire themselves out. Our two were asleep in the car before we'd even left the park.

(The tiger has been moved to another zoo temporarily while they build a new enclosure, and there are no hippos, but apart from that.......)