Parish of Cirencester

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist dominates Cirencester's market square, and it's impossible to miss - a vast wool merchant's cathedral that towers over the town like something from another era. Inside, the scale is genuinely impressive. The fan-vaulted ceiling soars overhead, and the light pours through enormous Perpendicular Gothic windows in a way that makes you understand why medieval traders were willing to pay for this.

It's free to wander in during opening hours, and most visitors spend 30-45 minutes properly taking it in. The Church House nearby is worth a look too, though the main draw is undoubtedly the building itself and the sense of medieval wool wealth it represents. Families won't struggle with boredom here - the sheer size of the space holds attention, and the stonework has enough detail to occupy curious eyes.

The church works perfectly as part of a Cirencester base. It's right in the town centre, so you can combine a visit with the Roman Amphitheatre across the way or a proper nose around the town's High Street. If you're staying at Cirencester Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite - just 0.7 miles away - you're basically on the doorstep. Mayfield Park is a bit further at 2.1 miles, but still walkable if you fancy it. Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park, further afield at 4.5 miles, makes Cirencester an easy day trip.

Go mid-week if you can. Weekends bring coach parties, and the space feels less contemplative when it's rammed.