Column by the leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Toby Savage.

As it’s English Tourism Week, I’d like to remind everyone about some of the great, and safe, venues and attractions that our area has to offer, ahead of half-term.

Somewhere which is well worth a visit is the recent winner of the Best Museum Visit award, Aerospace Bristol. Located on the historic Filton airfield, this museum conserves our aerospace heritage and celebrates our world-class achievements in the sector.

Aerospace Bristol offers supersonic fun for the whole family and the chance to step aboard the last Concorde ever to be built and flown. Every visit, and all donations, help the Bristol Aero Collection Trust advance skills in science and technology and inspire the next generation of engineers in our community. Please rest assured that they have introduced many Covid-19 safety measures to ensure your safety and comfort.

For those of us who are looking for an exciting day outdoors, look no further than the Wild Place Project. Also award winning, this wildlife conservation attraction is renowned for its high standards of animal welfare and customer service. It’s a great outdoor adventure, full of natural play and learning opportunities. Set on 136 acres of land, moments from junction 17 of the M5, the Wild Place Project is the first step on an exciting journey to create a world-class conservation park and the new home of Bristol Zoo.

The Wild Place Project has also introduced measures to keep you safe such as a timed ticketing system and one-way route.

For those seeking even more excitement, just down the road from Wild Place is The Wave, the first inland-surfing destination of its kind, where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can experience the joy of surfing and its many physical and mental health benefits.

Another great opportunity to enjoy some fresh air and see some animals is at the ever-popular Grimsbury Farm in Kingswood. This working farm provides a great day out for the family and is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday.

A further local highlight is Winterbourne Medieval Barn in Winterbourne, a historic building dating back to 1342 that has recently been refurbished and is host to traditional community events and artisan crafts.

We also have local heritage museums in Kingswood, Thornbury and Yate where visitors can learn more about the history of our proud communities in South Gloucestershire.

There are of course a wide range of parks, opens spaces and countryside to enjoy across the area, but if you are looking for something more structured then why not try one of the local heritage trails stopping by sites of particular interest.

Details of local museums and heritage, plus info and maps for our heritage walks are available at southglos.gov.uk/tourism

This is only the tip of the iceberg and represents a small selection of the many things to see and do in our area. I am very proud to represent such a fantastic place to live, work and visit.