Church Of The Holy Angels, Hoar Cross

The Church of the Holy Angels sits in the quiet village of Hoar Cross, a few miles north of Burton-on-Trent, and it's one of those Victorian churches that stops you dead in your tracks. Built in the 1870s, it's a seriously ambitious piece of Gothic Revival architecture - all red sandstone, soaring arches, and stained glass that actually makes you look twice rather than shuffle past half-asleep. The interior is properly ornate without feeling overdone, with a real sense of craftsmanship that you don't see in every parish church.

This is unmissably good for anyone interested in Victorian religious architecture or ecclesiastical design. History types will appreciate the detail work; those after a quiet moment of reflection will find it genuine and unhurried. The setting itself is lovely - surrounded by countryside rather than hemmed in by shops and traffic like many village churches. It takes maybe half an hour to look around properly unless you're the type to spend an hour studying every window and carving.

Being free to visit and easy to reach makes it a natural stop if you're based at one of the nearby holiday parks - Lane Tree Hideaways, Peake's Retreats, or Kingfisher are all within five miles. Combine it with a walk around the village or a proper explore of the surrounding Staffordshire countryside. The main road isn't far away, so you won't feel isolated, but Hoar Cross itself has managed to stay quiet and unpretentious. Worth the detour if you're in the area, though don't expect it to occupy a full afternoon.