Our Lady Of Good Counsel RC Church

The red-brick Victorian church sits quietly on its Derbyshire high street, the sort of place you'd walk past without thinking twice if you didn't know what to look for. Our Lady of Good Counsel is a proper Roman Catholic church, built in the nineteenth century when industrial Nottinghamshire was expanding rapidly. Inside, it's all high ceilings and ornate plasterwork - the kind of sacred space that makes you drop your voice without meaning to.

It's genuinely worth a stop if you're into church architecture or Catholic heritage. The craftsmanship rewards a closer look: the altar, the stained glass, the way light cuts through at certain times of day. This isn't a cathedral, so don't expect vast crowds or queues. Locals will be there during services, but outside of those times, you might have the place nearly to yourself.

Families with older children who can appreciate the history will get something from it. Toddlers will find twenty minutes more than enough. Allow half an hour if you're taking proper time to look around.

If you're based at either Riddings Wood or Golden Valley, both just up the road, this makes an easy addition to a morning's exploring. It fills a gap between bigger attractions rather than being the reason you'd drive out. Pop in when you're passing through rather than planning a dedicated trip. Free entry is likely - most parish churches are - but ring ahead to check opening hours.