Saint Michael

The church sits right in the heart of Banbury, all honey-coloured stone and proper medieval bones. St Michael's has been standing watch over the town since the 12th century, though what you see today is largely Victorian restoration - they really went to town with it in the 1800s.

Inside, it's all soaring arches and stained glass, the kind of place that makes you automatically lower your voice. The chancel's worth a look, and if you're into church architecture you'll spot the various periods layered on top of each other across the centuries. Most visitors spend twenty minutes to half an hour wandering about, reading plaques, standing in the light coming through the windows.

It's genuinely free to pop in, no charge at all. Open during reasonable daylight hours, though you'll want to check locally before turning up on a Sunday if you're keen to avoid a service. Families with older kids will get something out of it - younger ones might find it a bit quiet and still after five minutes.

If you're staying at Mount Farm Park just down the road, this makes an easy afternoon wander into Banbury town centre. The church isn't flashy or oversold, just a solid bit of the town's actual history rather than manufactured heritage. Worth the detour if you're already nearby, though you wouldn't plan a whole trip around it.