The top attractions will be rammed as usual this Easter. Dixe Wills has chosen 10 overlooked gems for those who fancy taking the road less travelled.

1. 1066 Battle of Hastings: Abbey and Battlefield, East Sussex

The ruined abbey is still very impressive and there's a highly enjoyable audio tour around the 100-acre battlefield. All in all, a good thing.
*English Heritage, english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.14113, +44 (0)1424 775705.

2. Erddig nr Wrexham, Clwyd

There's no reason why people wouldn't want to visit this very attractive 18th-century country house and its crowning glory: a Grade I-listed landscaped garden. The huge estate can be explored in a horse-drawn carriage or via its 13 miles of footpaths, leaving keen gardeners to examine the National Collection of Ivies.
*National Trust, nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-erddig/, +44 (0)1978 315151.

3. Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight
Readers may be surprised to find the stronghold notorious for imprisoning King Charles I bumping around near the bottom of the attractions barrel. Since its foundation by the Romans, this fantastically well preserved royal fortress has also found time to be captured by King Stephen and successfully ward off an attack by the French.
English Heritage, english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.14466, +44 (0)1983 522107.

4. Castle Drogo, nr Exeter, Devon

This quasi mediaeval granite castle is not only the last one built in Britain, but is also one of Sir Edwin Lutyens’ finest creations.
 
*National Trust, nationaltrust.org.uk/ main/
w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-castledrogo, +44 (0)1647 433306 .

5. Housesteads Roman Fort, nr Hexham, Northumberland

This is the most complete Roman fort we have in this country, and it's halfway along the wonder of wonders that is Hadrian's Wall.

*English Heritage, english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.13244, +44 (0)1434 344363.

6. Canterbury Tales, Canterbury, Kent
Set entirely inside a 500-year-old former church, visitors can follow the trail from London's Tabard Inn to Canterbury Cathedral, just as Chaucer's pilgrims did.

* Continuum Group, canterburytales.org.uk/home.htm, +44 (0)1227 454888.

7. Fort Nelson, nr Portsmouth, Hampshire

Built in 1860, this 19-acre fort was intended to repel a French invasion that never materialised. Today it is restored to its Victorian glory and is, appropriately, home to the National Museum of Arms and Armour. 
* Royal Armouries , royalarmouries.org/extsite/view.jsp?sectionId=2201, +44 (0)1329 233 734.

8. National Conservation Centre, Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool, 
* liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/conservation, +44 (0)151 478 4999.

9. Oxford Castle, Oxford 
* Continuum Group, oxfordcastle.com, +44 (0)1865 260666. Entry: Adult £7.50, child £5.35

10. Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
A brand new gallery opened on March 20 featuring what is heralded as the most important craft collection in Britain with work from all the big names. 
* Tyne and Wear Museums, twmuseums.org.uk/Shipley,
+44 (0)191 477 1495.