St. Edmund or St. James Church

The church sits quietly on Sandy's edge, one of those places that rewards a deliberate detour rather than a casual drive-by. Either St Edmund or St James - the locals seem to argue about which name actually stuck - it's a proper medieval building with the kind of solid stone walls that have watched over the town for centuries.

Inside, there's real character: old wooden beams, the sort of light that only comes through ancient stained glass, and that particular smell of age and stone that you either love or find a bit musty. The craftsmanship in the stonework is worth a closer look, especially if you care about that sort of thing. It won't take more than thirty or forty minutes to have a proper look around, though history types could easily spend longer picking over the details.

Families with younger kids might find it a bit quiet - there's no interactive stuff or cafe - but teenagers interested in medieval architecture or older children who actually listen when you explain things will get something out of it. It's free to wander in, which is generous.

The real appeal is combining this with a stay at one of the local parks. Cambridgeshire Lakes, just 4.4 miles away, offers proper facilities and five-star ratings for good reason. St Neots Camping and Caravanning Club Site is slightly further at 5.4 miles but equally well-regarded. Either makes St Edmund or St James an easy morning visit before heading back to base for lunch. Worth twenty minutes of your time if you're in the area, though don't rearrange your whole holiday around it.