Saint Nicholas

The church sits on high ground overlooking Littlehampton with a view that stretches all the way down to the coast. Saint Nicholas is proper medieval - we're talking 12th-century work here, though it's been fiddled with over the centuries as churches tend to be. The tower's the real draw, a sturdy flint and stone job that's weathered about 800 years of Sussex weather.

Walkers will find it worth the detour off the main drag. The churchyard's peaceful, the kind of place where time moves differently. Inside there's genuine old timber work and some decent monuments if you're into that sort of thing. The setting alone makes it worth stopping by - that view across the South Downs towards Littlehampton town centre reminds you why people built their important buildings where they did.

It's free to look around, though opening hours vary depending on volunteer availability - worth checking locally before you make a special trip. Allow half an hour if you're stopping for a proper look. Families with restless kids might find it a quick stop rather than a long stay, but if you've got teenagers interested in history or architecture, it hits different.

Stay at Ryebank Corner Glamping just down the way and you can easily pop over. Combine it with a walk through the Littlehampton area or head inland to the Downs proper. Not a major attraction, but solid value on a sunny afternoon.