London Colney Baptist Church

The red-brick Baptist church sitting quietly in London Colney feels like it's been forgotten by the world - which is rather the point of a place built for contemplation. It's a modest Victorian structure that doesn't shout for attention, but that restraint is part of its appeal. The interior is straightforward and uncluttered, the kind of space where you can actually hear yourself think, which becomes rare the closer you get to St Albans.

You won't spend hours here. Most people spend twenty minutes, maybe half an hour if the doors are open and there's someone about to chat with. It's the sort of place that works best as a gentle detour rather than a planned expedition - the kind of stop that breaks up a walk through Hertfordshire without demanding much effort in return.

Families with young children might find it a bit quiet for their needs, but walkers exploring the quieter corners of the county will appreciate the chance to step inside somewhere genuinely peaceful. If you're staying at Frogmore Park Homes just up the road, it's worth knowing it's there as a five-minute diversion. Same applies if you're based at Cherry Green Trees a bit further out. Nothing dramatic, nothing you've travelled hours to see - just a proper working church where you're welcome to sit for a bit if the mood takes you. Ring ahead to check opening times before making the trip.