St Barnabas Church

The tower of St Barnabas rises unexpectedly from the Nottinghamshire landscape near Doncaster, a proper statement of medieval ambition that catches you off guard if you're not expecting it. Walk inside and you'll find yourself in one of those churches that feels genuinely lived-in rather than museum-like - the kind of place where locals still gather for services and the building hasn't been pickled in aspic for tourists.

It's a solid 14th-century structure with some nice architectural details if you know what to look for: decent stonework, decent proportions. The interior rewards a slow wander rather than a quick snap for Instagram. You're looking at maybe thirty minutes here unless you're really into ecclesiastical details, which is fine because St Barnabas isn't trying to be Nottingham Cathedral.

This works best as part of a wider Nottinghamshire meander rather than a destination in itself. Pair it with the nearby Hallcroft Fishery and Holiday Park or Olive Tree Caravan and Camping Park if you're basing yourself in the area for a few days - the quieter nature of a church visit fits well with a park holiday where you're moving at a gentler pace anyway. There's something rather nice about stumbling upon a church like this when you're meant to be relaxing, not rushing between big-name attractions.

The Doncaster connection makes it straightforward to find, and you won't battle crowds here.