Spicer Street Church

St Albans has enough medieval architecture to keep a historian occupied for days, but Spicer Street Church is easy to miss - tucked away on a quiet street just north of the town centre. It's a proper Victorian chapel, the sort of building that speaks volumes about 19th-century religious life without making a fuss about it.

The church itself is modest and unadorned compared to the soaring gothic of the cathedral down the road. Red brick, straightforward design, the kind of place that would have served a local congregation rather than drawing pilgrims from across the county. What makes it worth a visit is precisely that ordinariness - it's a snapshot of how ordinary people worshipped, away from the grand statements.

Walking around St Albans, you'll find yourself gravitating towards the Cathedral and the Clock Tower, which are undeniably impressive. But if you've got an hour to spare and you're interested in Victorian social history, Spicer Street offers something different. It's the sort of building that makes you think about the lives attached to it.

St Albans itself is well-positioned for a park holiday - Cherry Green Trees is just four miles out and would make a comfortable base. The town is walkable, the pubs are decent, and you can easily fill a day exploring without feeling rushed. Spicer Street Church fits neatly into that itinerary as a quiet aside rather than a headline attraction.