St Catherine's Church, Littlehampton

The flint and stone tower of St Catherine's rises above Littlehampton's High Street with proper medieval authority. Built in the 13th century, it's one of those churches that sneaks up on you - easy to walk past if you're heading for the seafront, but worth stopping for if you've got twenty minutes spare.

Inside, the church has retained its original character without feeling overly restored. The chancel and nave give you a genuine sense of how these buildings actually functioned centuries ago, rather than feeling like a museum piece. What strikes you most is the scale - it's intimate rather than grand, which somehow makes the age of it more real. You can see where centuries of feet have worn the floor, and the light comes through in that particular way it only does in old churches.

Family groups will find it a gentle break from a seaside day out, though it's not the sort of place that'll hold children's attention for long. History enthusiasts will want to spend time reading the monuments and considering the building's evolution from Norman times through to now. If you're staying at South Downs Caravan Park three miles south, or any of the other sites dotted around the area, St Catherine's makes a natural stop on a walk into town rather than a destination in itself.

The church sits right in Littlehampton proper, so it's free to access and demands no special planning - just turn up. Best visited on a quiet weekday morning when you've got the place to yourself.