St. Bartholomew’s Church

The nave at St Bartholomew's is what stops you dead when you walk in - soaring stone columns and a roof that seems to stretch for ever. It's one of the finest Norman churches in all of Warwickshire, and standing inside on a quiet afternoon feels like you've stumbled into something properly special.

The church sits just outside Coventry, which makes it an easy stop if you're based in the area. You'll find it's the sort of place that rewards wandering around slowly - the stonework is extraordinary, and the detail carved into the pillars tells you something about the craftspeople who built it centuries ago. It's not a museum in the formal sense; you're just stepping into an active church that happens to be absolutely gorgeous.

Walkers and architecture types will get the most from this, though if you've got kids who can manage a bit of quiet time indoors, they'll be impressed by the sheer scale of the space. Allow an hour to properly look around without rushing. There's no admission charge as far as we could tell - it's a working parish church - but do check locally as hours can vary.

If you're staying at Eriba Glade Touring Caravan Park nearby, this is an excellent afternoon excursion that doesn't require much planning. It's the sort of visit that justifies a weekend in the Midlands if you're into medieval architecture, though it's not somewhere you'd build a holiday around on its own.