Our Lady Immaculate and Saint Andrew

The twin spires of Our Lady Immaculate and Saint Andrew rise above Hitchin's High Street like something from a Victorian postcard. This is a proper working church, not a museum piece, so you'll need to time your visit carefully around services and opening hours. The building itself dates back centuries, though what you see today is largely Victorian restoration work - which, frankly, they did well. The interior has that particular smell of old wood and stone that never gets old, plus decent stained glass if you're into that sort of thing.

It's the sort of place history buffs and architecture enthusiasts will spend a good twenty minutes poking around, reading plaques and craning their necks at the ceiling. Families with restless kids might find it less rewarding - churches don't hold everyone's attention for long. The location on Hitchin's main drag is handy; you can combine it with a wander round the town's proper lovely market square and independent shops without any extra travel.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Jacks Hill is closest at under three miles away - it's worth the drive into Hitchin itself for an afternoon. The church sits alongside everything else the town has to offer, so treat it as part of a broader visit rather than a standalone trip. Pop in if you're passing, but don't rearrange your entire itinerary for it.