Dorchester Family Church

You'll find this solid Victorian church standing on the high street in Dorchester, a town that feels thoroughly real - not prettified or overly touristy. Dorchester Family Church is what the name suggests: a working church with a relaxed, contemporary feel that's quite different from the medieval parish churches you'll see elsewhere in Dorset.

The interior has been updated for modern use, which means you won't get the musty, centuries-old atmosphere some church visitors crave, but you will get a sense of an actual community space rather than a museum piece. It's worth a quick look if you're already in town on the high street, particularly if you're interested in how Victorian architecture has been adapted for 21st-century worship.

Realistically, you'll spend fifteen minutes here maximum. It's not the sort of place that demands a dedicated trip, but it fits perfectly into a morning wandering Dorchester's shops and pubs. The town itself - home to the Dorset County Museum and some decent independent cafes - deserves an hour or two.

If you're camping nearby at Crossways Caravan and Motorhome Club or glamping at Green Valley Yurts, both just a few miles outside town, Dorchester makes an easy half-day outing. The surrounding countryside offers proper walks, and you can reach the coast at Sutton Poyntz without much fuss. The church itself won't be the highlight of your trip, but it's a useful pit-stop during a wider exploration of the area.