St. Elisabeth’s Church, Eastbourne

The red-brick Victorian church on Eastbourne's seafront is impossible to miss - that distinctive spire punctures the skyline between the pier and the promenade. St Elisabeth's went up in the 1880s when Eastbourne was reinventing itself as a proper seaside resort, and it's got all the earnest Gothic Revival details you'd expect: pointed arches, decorative tilework, stained glass that catches the afternoon light beautifully.

Inside, it's surprisingly spacious and calm given how close you are to the beach and the ice cream vans. The interior decoration is what arrests you - rich reds and golds, good examples of Victorian ecclesiastical craftsmanship. If you're the type who finds energy in old churches, you'll linger. If not, twenty minutes covers it.

This works best as a quick stop if you're already down the front - Sunday worshippers will have the quietest experience, though services mean you'll need to check opening times. A few streets inland near Pevensey you'll find more substantial historical draw if you're after that sort of thing.

For a holiday with Warren Wood Country Park or one of the other sites nearby, the church slots neatly into a morning exploring Eastbourne proper. It's free to pop in and genuinely worth five minutes. The walk along the seafront afterwards is the real attraction though.