All Saints Church, Hampton

The Thames-side village of Hampton holds one of Surrey's genuine surprises - All Saints Church sits right beside the river, its tower visible from across the water. Inside, the church is a proper working medieval space, not a museum piece. Thirteenth-century walls, some decent stained glass, and the kind of quiet you only find in old parish churches on a weekday morning.

It's the location that makes it worth a visit rather than the building itself, honestly. The churchyard slopes down toward the water, and on a decent day you'll spot swans, the occasional rowing boat, and families having picnics on the opposite bank. The church rewards a slow wander rather than a quick tick-off - spend time reading the gravestones, checking the notice boards for village history, seeing how the place has evolved.

History types will appreciate the medieval bones, but families with restless kids might find it less gripping than they'd hoped. Allow half an hour maximum, then head down to the towpath itself - that's where Hampton shows its real character. It's free to pop inside and the doors are generally open during daylight hours, though there's no guarantee.

If you're camping at Laleham Camping Club or one of the other parks around Walton-on-Thames and Chertsey - all within five miles - this is an easy half-hour cycle or riverside walk. Combine it with the towpath itself, which runs for miles in both directions and gives you proper countryside without leaving Surrey.