Appleton St Mary

You'll find Appleton St Mary tucked away in the Norfolk countryside east of Sandringham - the sort of church that rewards those willing to leave the main roads behind. It's a proper village church with real character, the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think instead of being herded round with fifty other visitors.

The building itself is worth seeing for its architecture and interior, though exact details on opening hours aren't straightforward - best to check locally in Sandringham before making the trip. What strikes you most is how quiet it is. This isn't a major tourist draw, which means the church still feels like it belongs to the village rather than to the heritage industry.

It works well if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Pinecones is just 2.5 miles away and makes a decent base for exploring this corner of Norfolk. Happy Valley Woodland sits at 3.6 miles if you're after something more upmarket with glamping options. An hour here fits nicely into a morning walk around the local lanes before heading back for lunch.

History enthusiasts will find more to chew on than casual sightseers, if I'm honest. Families with young kids might find twenty minutes quite enough unless they're genuinely into rural churches. But if you're doing a proper Norfolk break and you like discovering places that most visitors miss, it's well worth the detour.