Christ Church Trumpington

The village of Trumpington sits just south of Cambridge, and its parish church is one of those places you'd never find unless someone told you about it. Christ Church itself isn't ancient - it's Victorian, completed in 1879 - but what makes it worth a detour is the extraordinary stained glass. The east window alone stops you dead. It's a Burne-Jones design, all flowing Pre-Raphaelite figures and that distinctive jewel-like colour you only get from proper period glass.

The interior feels intimate rather than grand, which suits it better. Light pours through those windows and catches on the tiles and woodwork in ways that change throughout the day. If you're into Victorian church architecture and design, you'll spend a good hour here. Families with younger kids might find twenty minutes about right before restlessness sets in - there's no interactive element, just the space itself to absorb.

It's free to wander in, as most parish churches are, though hours can be variable - worth checking locally when you're staying at Shepreth Mill Caravan & Camping Holiday Park, which is only six miles away and makes a good base for exploring Cambridge and the villages around it. The walk from the village centre is pleasant enough, taking you through residential streets that have clearly evolved over centuries.

Trumpington isn't a destination on its own, but paired with a Cambridge visit - the colleges, the Backs, the Fitzwilliam - it's a proper rewarding afternoon. The stained glass alone justifies the trip.