Church of St Mary Virgin Northill

The Church of St Mary Virgin sits quietly at the heart of Northill, a village that hasn't changed much in centuries. Walking through the churchyard on an overcast afternoon, you're confronted with some proper medieval stonework - this place has been standing since the 12th century, which is the sort of thing that hits differently when you're actually standing in front of it.

Inside, the nave stretches longer than you'd expect from the modest exterior. There are decent examples of medieval monuments dotted about, and if you're into that sort of thing - old brasses, carved effigies, the quiet satisfaction of reading inscriptions from people dead four hundred years - you'll find plenty to occupy an hour. The windows aren't spectacular, but they're genuine, which counts for something.

It's free to wander in, and the village itself is the sort of place where you can actually hear birdsong. Henlow is just a few miles south if you need shops or a proper coffee. If you're staying at Cambridgeshire Lakes, the park about six miles away, this makes for a straightforward afternoon excursion without the tourist crowds you'd hit elsewhere. Don't expect theatrical grandeur or tour groups - it's a working parish church that happens to be medieval. That's rather the point.