Fordham Church, St Peter & St Mary Magdalene

The church sits quietly at the edge of Fordham, just a few miles east of Ely - the sort of place you'd miss entirely if you weren't looking for it. St Peter and St Mary Magdalene is a proper medieval building, and what strikes you first is how genuinely old it feels. The stonework, the angles, the way light falls through the windows - none of it's been mucked about with too much.

This is very much a working parish church rather than a tourist spectacle, which means it's refreshingly peaceful. You'll find the usual architectural details worth noting if you know what to look for - a decent chancel, decent proportions - but honestly, it's the general atmosphere that rewards a visit more than any single showstopper feature.

History types will find their time well spent, especially if you're exploring the broader ecclesiastical landscape around Ely Cathedral. It's the kind of church that makes you think about how these buildings have simply carried on for centuries, used by the same community again and again. Families might find it a bit quiet unless the kids are genuinely interested in old churches - it's not interactive or particularly kid-friendly, just genuinely old.

If you're staying at Trelander Camping and Caravanning nearby, it's absolutely worth a detour. Allow twenty minutes to half an hour, longer if you're the type to sit and absorb the space. Check ahead on opening hours as you would with any village church - they're not always unlocked, but most welcome genuine visitors.