Sacred Heart of Jesus RC Church, Southend

The red brick facade of Sacred Heart of Jesus catches you off guard on a Southend side street - it's altogether grander than you'd expect for a neighbourhood church. Built in the Victorian era, this Roman Catholic place of worship has the sort of solid, no-nonsense charm that characterises Essex religious architecture. Inside, there's proper craftsmanship: ornate wooden furnishings, stained glass that actually stops you mid-stride, and the kind of peaceful quiet that makes you grateful for the escape from the high street.

It's worth a visit if you're into ecclesiastical architecture or just need twenty minutes of calm during a park-based holiday in the area. History enthusiasts will appreciate the Victorian detailing, though casual tourists might find an hour is stretching it unless you're catching a service. The church sits close enough to Benfleet that it works as a gentle walk-around en route to somewhere else, rather than a destination in itself.

If you're staying at Essex Glamping or Riverside Village Holiday Park - both within reasonable driving distance - it's the sort of cultural pit-stop that balances a weekend of outdoor relaxation with something more contemplative. The neighbourhood itself is residential and quiet, so there's no great atmosphere of a tourist hotspot, but that's rather the point. You'll get a genuine sense of how people actually live and worship in this corner of Essex, away from the seafront bustle.