Sacred Heart

The Sacred Heart sits in Shanklin as a proper Victorian church - all red brick and Gothic Revival details that wouldn't look out of place in a Surrey suburb, except you're on the Isle of Wight and the sea's just down the road. Built in the 1880s when the island was becoming fashionable with the wealthy, it's the kind of place where you can actually feel the period it came from. The interior's all soaring arches and stained glass, quite moving if you catch the light right on a clear day.

It's not a massive draw on its own - you're looking at twenty minutes inside, maybe half an hour if you're genuinely interested in Victorian ecclesiastical architecture. But that's rather the point. Come here if you're staying at Sandhills or White Cliff Bay and want a quiet morning walk into town, or if you've got an hour to kill between other things. History buffs and anyone who appreciates solid 19th-century workmanship will get more from it than families with restless kids.

Shanklin itself is your standard seaside town - all traditional charm with a decent beach and a clifftop promenade that's worth the walk. The church sits conveniently in the town centre, so popping in costs nothing but time. If you're based at Old Mill or St Helens Coastal Resort nearby, it's an easy detour on a rainy afternoon, or combine it with a proper explore of Shanklin's old village streets and the chine walks. Free admission, no faffing about with opening hours.