Saint Michael

The Church of St Michael in Aylsham is one of those Norfolk buildings that stops you mid-stride. It's a 15th-century parish church with all the hallmarks of the region's wool-trade prosperity - a proper tower, flint walls, and windows that speak to serious medieval craftsmanship. You'll find it right in the market town itself, so it's impossible to miss if you're wandering about.

What strikes you most is the interior. The nave is spacious and light, with original features that remind you Norfolk wasn't built for show-offs - it was built to last. The chancel work is solid, unpretentious stuff. If you're the sort who enjoys reading old stone and timber, you could spend a good hour here without it feeling like a chore.

It's ideal for architecture buffs and anyone doing a church trail through Norfolk. Families with older kids won't find it tedious, though under-fives might get restless. Free admission, as is typical for working parish churches.

If you're camping at Top Farm or Deer's Mead nearby, Aylsham itself makes for a decent morning stop before heading toward Norwich or the coast. The town's got decent tea shops and a proper high street, so you can make a half-day of it. St Michael works best as part of a broader Norfolk heritage wander rather than a destination in itself, but it's definitely worth the detour if you're in the area.