Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Ipswich

The red brick facade of Saint Mary Magdalen is hard to miss as you walk through Ipswich town centre. It's a proper Victorian Catholic church, built when the city was expanding fast, and the interior is surprisingly grand for what looks quite modest from the street. The nave has real presence - tall columns, decent stained glass, and that particular smell of old churches that takes you straight back.

You'll get the most from this if you're into ecclesiastical architecture or tracking the city's religious history. The Victorians didn't do things by halves, and this place shows it. Families passing through Ipswich won't spend hours here, but it's worth a quick look if you're exploring the town anyway - takes about twenty minutes to have a proper look around.

Drop in between visits to the nearby holiday parks. The Lost Garden Retreat and Priory Park are both within easy reach, and if you're based at one of those spots, the church makes a decent rainy-day detour. It's free to wander around, though opening hours aren't entirely predictable for casual visitors - your best bet is calling ahead or catching it when services aren't on. Not a headline attraction, but a solid reminder that Victorian Ipswich had ambitions beyond industry and trade.