Little Thurlow Church, St Peter

The church sits in its own little bubble of quiet, just outside Newmarket, surrounded by fields that stretch to the horizon. St Peter's at Little Thurlow is properly small - the kind of place where you can see everything in twenty minutes, but somehow you'll want to stay longer. The medieval flintwork on the walls catches the light in a way that photographs can't capture, and inside there's that particular smell churches have - old stone, dust, and something else you can't quite name.

It's the sort of spot history buffs actually enjoy, rather than endure. The chancel and tower date back to the 14th century, and there's real character in the details - old bench ends, a decent font, the kind of accumulated patina that tells you this place has been doing its job for six hundred years without needing to shout about it. Kids might get restless after a few minutes, but if you've got teenagers interested in medieval architecture, they'll find plenty to sketch or photograph.

Access is straightforward enough and free, though opening times aren't advertised, so best to check locally in Newmarket or ring ahead if you want to be certain. It makes a cracking stop during a park holiday - fits neatly between a morning at Piggles Retreat or HappenOak Treehouse and lunch back in town. The walk itself is pleasant rather than spectacular, through proper countryside. Worth thirty minutes of your time if you're staying nearby and fancy something genuinely old rather than manufactured.