St Elizabeth RC Church, Coventry

The moment you step into St Elizabeth, you're confronted with something genuinely unusual for a Catholic church in the Midlands. Built in the 1950s, it's a proper statement of post-war optimism - all clean lines and modernist sensibility where you might expect Victorian heaviness. The brick exterior is striking in its simplicity, and inside the light floods through in ways that feel almost Scandinavian rather than traditionally Catholic.

This is a working parish church, so visiting requires respect for worship times, but the architecture alone repays the trip if you're into mid-century design. The interior has real character - you'll notice immediately how the space feels different from older churches, with its emphasis on openness and accessibility to the altar.

It's not a destination in itself, but if you're based at 5 Ways Lakes nearby or exploring Coventry proper, it's worth a 20-minute detour to see how the Church tackled modernity head-on after the Second World War. Walkers doing the parks circuit will find it a decent break, though bring a map - it's not exactly signposted from the main road.

The real value here is architectural and historical. If Victorian Gothic or medieval stone doesn't move you, you might find it a bit sparse. But for anyone interested in post-war British design or Catholic social history, it's a solid find that most tourists completely miss.