Saint James Church

The church sits on a rise overlooking Hartlepool, all grey stone and purposeful angles. Saint James is a proper working parish church, not a museum piece, which means you'll find real life happening inside rather than velvet ropes and gift shops.

It's the sort of place that rewards a quiet wander rather than a rushed half-hour. The interior has that particular smell all old churches share - stone, old wood, time itself - and if you're into ecclesiastical architecture, there's decent material here to study. The graveyard sprawls generous around the building, which is worth a walk through if you've got ten minutes.

Families won't find this exciting in the way a theme park is exciting, but it's the kind of stop that works perfectly between other activities. Walkers heading through the area could easily call in. History types will appreciate its place in the local story, though you'll want to check opening times before making a special trip.

The location is the real draw - it's close enough to Castledene Holiday Park and Woodside Ridge if you're staying in the area for the week. Makes for a proper afternoon excursion on an otherwise lazy day. Allow an hour if you want to sit with it, twenty minutes if you're just having a look. Free to enter, as most parish churches are, and the quiet is something you won't find at the holiday parks.