Great Bradley Church, St Mary the Virgin

The flint and stone tower of St Mary the Virgin rises unexpectedly from the Suffolk border countryside near Newmarket, announcing itself long before you reach Great Bradley. This 12th-century church is the real deal - medieval work with later additions, the kind of place that rewards a proper look around if you've got an interest in ecclesiastical architecture.

Inside, there's decent medieval stonework and the usual church furnishings you'd expect from a working parish church. The tower itself is the main draw visually, commanding views across the fens. It's not a showstopper like some of the grander East Anglian churches, but it has genuine presence and the kind of quiet you don't find in towns.

This works best for architecture enthusiasts or anyone doing a church-crawl through Cambridgeshire - it's the sort of spot you'd hit en route rather than drive across the county specifically for. Allow twenty minutes, maybe thirty if you're taking photographs or doing rubbings.

If you're based at Piggles Retreat nearby, it's an easy afternoon detour. The church is typically open during daylight hours as an active parish church, though confirmation of current opening times is worth checking locally. Admission is free, naturally.

The surrounding countryside is genuinely quiet and worth a wander if you've got the time. Great Bradley itself is barely a village - just the church, a few houses, and open fields. That's rather the point.