Lilleshall Abbey

The ruins of Lilleshall Abbey stand in open countryside just outside Shifnal, and they're genuinely impressive - red sandstone arches rising against the Shropshire sky like something from a medieval manuscript. What you get here are the substantial remains of a 12th-century Augustinian monastery, dissolved under Henry VIII in the 1530s. The church itself is the star turn - you can still make out the nave, chancel, and crossing, and the cloister outlines are clear enough to let your imagination fill in the monks' daily routines.

It's absolutely free to wander around, and there's no timed entry - you can rock up whenever. Allow an hour if you're properly interested in the architecture, thirty minutes if you just fancy a quick look and a poke about. History enthusiasts will get far more out of the detail work - you can still spot mason's marks on the stonework - while families with younger kids might find it feels a touch sparse once they've had a look around. The site sits in open fields, so it's proper windswept and exposed, which adds to the atmosphere but means you'll want decent weather.

If you're staying at Ted's Farm Caravan and Camping Site just two and a half miles down the road, Lilleshall makes for an easy morning outing before heading to High Onn Holiday Park's attractions. It's the kind of place that rewards a wander, especially if you combine it with a walk around the surrounding countryside. Medieval history buffs should definitely make the detour.