St Birinus Church

The church sits in a quiet corner of the Dorchester-on-Thames landscape, its Saxon walls a proper reminder of how old England actually is. St Birinus Church dates back to the 7th century - we're talking Anglo-Saxon foundations here, not Norman additions tacked on later. Walk inside and you'll see the original stonework, though later medieval folk obviously felt the need to improve things. The church is small, intimate, and entirely free to wander around in.

It's the sort of place that rewards a slow visit rather than a quick snap for social media. History types will get far more from it than casual tourists, though anyone with a genuine interest in how churches evolved across centuries will find themselves properly absorbed. There's no gift shop, no café, no interpretive panels - just the building itself and what it tells you.

Located just outside Oxford, St Birinus works brilliantly as part of a broader Oxfordshire church crawl. If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Benson Waterfront is closest at 2.6 miles, or Bridge Villa Camping if you want something more highly rated - you could easily combine this with a walk along the Thames or a visit to Dorchester's other medieval sites.

Allow 30 minutes maximum, longer if you're genuinely into Saxon architecture. Spring or autumn are best - summer brings crowds of tourists to the area, and winter can feel properly bleak. The approach involves a bit of a walk from the village centre, so sensible shoes are worth it.