Saint Francis

The church of Saint Francis sits quietly in Oxford, one of those places you could walk past without noticing if you weren't paying attention. It's a Victorian-era build, all red brick and modest proportions - nothing remotely flashy, which is rather the point. Inside, the light comes through simple windows and lands on polished wood pews that have supported centuries of knees.

This is a working parish church, so you'll find real worshippers here, not tourists queuing round the block. The architecture speaks to the Victorian passion for honest materials and straightforward faith. If you're into church interiors - and plenty of people doing the Oxfordshire round trip are - it's worth twenty minutes of your time. The nave is restful rather than overwhelming.

Families won't find much to occupy restless kids for long, but if you're after somewhere genuinely peaceful to sit for a bit, you could do worse. The churchyard itself offers a bit of greenery and some of the older stones tell proper local stories. Many visitors combine this with Oxford's grander cathedral attractions, which makes Saint Francis feel like a proper palate-cleanser - less grand, more intimate.

If you're based at Newton Grove, the 6-mile distance makes this an easy morning jaunt into Oxford proper. Check ahead for service times if you want to experience it as it's actually meant to be used, rather than slipping in on a Tuesday afternoon.