Knightthorpe Methodist Church

The modest red-brick Methodist chapel on the outskirts of Loughborough is exactly the sort of place you'd miss if you weren't looking for it - which is rather the point. Knightthorpe Methodist Church sits quietly in rural Leicestershire, serving a congregation that's been meeting here since the 19th century, and it's the kind of building that rewards a brief detour if you're staying at one of the nearby farms or campsites.

It's a straightforward, unfussy structure - no grand architecture or elaborate stonework. What you get instead is the genuine article: a working Methodist chapel with original features and the sort of atmospheric stillness that comes from a building used regularly for worship rather than tourism. The interior is simple, functional, lined with wooden pews and supported by a devoted local community.

This isn't for everyone. History enthusiasts with an interest in Victorian nonconformist architecture will find it worthwhile. If you're based at Proctors Park or High Meadows Farm and fancy a gentle walk with a bit of cultural substance, it's well worth the trip from Loughborough. Families with restless children will likely find a five-minute visit enough.

Access details are thin on the ground - there's no dedicated visitor information, so ringing ahead to check opening times would be sensible. It's free to visit, and the walk through the Leicestershire countryside to reach it is actually the main event. Combine it with time at nearby Bradgate Park if you're after a proper day out.