Hillsborough Elim

The modest brick church sitting on the main street of Hillsborough doesn't announce itself loudly, but it's worth stopping by if you're passing through. Hillsborough Elim is a straightforward Pentecostal place of worship, unpretentious and open to visitors outside service times - though it's worth checking ahead to be certain of access.

You'll find the interior calm rather than grand. The sort of space where the focus stays on the pulpit and the congregation rather than stained glass and stonework. There's something honest about that approach, actually. It doesn't demand much of your time - twenty minutes will cover it - but if you're interested in modern church architecture or simply curious about how different denominations shape their spaces, it's a reasonable addition to a Hillsborough walk.

Historians and architecture buffs will get more from the nearby Anglican parish church, to be frank. But if you're staying at Lakeside View Caravan Park just five miles away and fancy a gentle stroll into Hillsborough village itself, you could easily combine this with the castle ruins and a proper look around the handsome Georgian street layout. The village itself rewards an hour or two of wandering.

The church works best as part of a broader Hillsborough visit rather than a dedicated destination. Free to enter, no fuss, no crowds.