Our Lady of Sorrows Church

Our Lady of Sorrows Church sits on the quiet edge of Dorking, a Victorian-era Catholic church that catches you off guard with how substantial it feels for somewhere so tucked away. The building itself is all red brick and pointed arches - proper Gothic Revival, the kind of architecture that makes you think about the immigrant Irish communities who needed their own place to worship back in the 1860s. Inside, there's genuine atmosphere: high ceilings, stained glass that throws coloured light across the pews, and an ornate altar that speaks to real devotion rather than showiness.

This is really one for architecture buffs and anyone interested in Catholic social history in Victorian Surrey. It's not a tourist spectacle - you won't find queues or gift shops - which is rather the point. The church functions as a working parish, so visiting outside of services means you get peace and quiet to actually look around.

If you're based at Surrey Hills Yurts, less than five miles away, this makes a gentle morning walk into Dorking. Give it thirty minutes to have a proper look. The real reward comes from how it reveals something about the area's past - this wasn't always the affluent commuter belt it is now. Worth combining with a wander through Dorking's High Street or a longer walk into the surrounding hills if you're spending proper time in the area.