St Anselm's

The sandstone tower of St Anselm's rises above the Surrey countryside just outside Godalming, a church that's been drawing locals for centuries and feels genuinely lived-in rather than frozen in time. Inside, it's all high ceilings, stained glass that actually catches the light properly, and that particular smell - candle wax and old stone - that either moves you or leaves you cold depending on your stance on churches. The chancel's worth a look if medieval woodwork speaks to you, though it's not one of those jaw-dropping architectural showstoppers you'll be talking about for months.

This is the sort of place walkers stumble upon rather than plan a trip around, which isn't a criticism. If you're staying at Little Cowdray Farm Glamping or Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat - both within a few miles - it's a straightforward detour on a country ramble through the hills. Give yourself twenty minutes inside, half an hour if you're genuinely interested in the fixtures. Admission appears to be free, which is standard for these parish churches, though it's worth checking their website before you visit as opening hours aren't always reliable for smaller places like this.

Surey's got enough pleasant countryside walks that St Anselm's works best as a punctuation mark in a bigger day out rather than a destination in itself. Families with fidgety kids might find it a quick stop rather than an absorbing one, but anyone with a taste for rural English church architecture will appreciate the genuine thing - no theme park presentation, just a working church that's been there since medieval times.