Church of St Cedd & St Gregory

The Church of St Cedd and St Gregory sits on a quiet corner near Colchester, a Saxon church that's genuinely old in a way most people don't fully appreciate until they're standing inside it. The pair of saints it's named after were real figures - Cedd was a missionary bishop, Gregory a pope - and there's something rather moving about a building that's been in continuous use for over a thousand years.

You get solid Norman architecture mixed with earlier Saxon work if you know what to look for. The interior is straightforward rather than ornate, which somehow makes it easier to sit with your thoughts. There's no gift shop, no visitor centre, no faffing about - just a working church where people actually come to pray.

History enthusiasts will find this rewarding. Families with younger kids might struggle unless they're the reverent type - it's not set up for entertainment. Allow half an hour to have a proper look around. Most days you should be able to get in, though it's worth ringing ahead or checking the Colchester town information if you're making a special trip.

If you're staying at Eastland Meadows Country Park just three miles away, this makes an easy afternoon detour from countryside walks. You won't queue, you won't pay an entrance fee, and you'll have touched something genuinely medieval. That's rather rare these days.