Sandham Memorial Chapel

The Sandham Memorial Chapel sits just outside Newbury, and honestly, it's one of those places you'd walk straight past if you didn't know what you were looking for. The red-brick building doesn't announce itself, but inside it's extraordinary. Stanley Spencer spent years painting the walls with scenes of First World War life - not the glory, the gore, the boredom, the faith. It's intimate and unsettling and absolutely worth the detour.

Spencer's murals wrap around you. Soldiers scrubbing clothes, being inoculated, digging latrines. There's resurrection at the east end, which is where the weight of the whole thing lands. You can spend twenty minutes or two hours depending on how deep you want to go with it. History enthusiasts will be captivated. Kids under twelve might struggle unless they're the type to sit quietly with art.

The chapel's free to enter, though donations are gratefully received. It's a National Trust property, so if you're staying at Hollington Park Glamping or Bishops Green Farm Campsite nearby, it's a proper easy morning visit before heading to Cherry Bird Country Park for the afternoon. Go midweek if possible - it gets quieter and you can actually think. The light through the windows changes throughout the day, which matters when you're looking at paintings this raw.