St Helen's Church, Wheldrake

The village church at Wheldrake sits quietly just outside York, and it's one of those places that rewards a small detour if you're exploring the countryside around the city. St Helen's is a proper medieval affair - the kind of building that's been tinkering along for centuries without making much fuss about it. Inside you'll find decent medieval woodwork and the sort of calm that only an old parish church can deliver.

It's genuinely worth stopping if you're walking or driving through the village, though you won't need more than twenty minutes unless you're seriously into ecclesiastical architecture. Families with kids might find it a bit static - there's not much interactive going on - but if you're the sort who enjoys poking around village churches and reading old memorials, you'll get something out of it. The churchyard itself is pleasant enough for a wander.

Being so close to York, this works well as part of a broader day out rather than a destination in itself. If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Wigwam Holidays Ball Hall Farm is only a couple of miles away, or Acorn Glade if you want something more upmarket - you could easily include Wheldrake in a village ramble. The Spinney Wild Camping is a bit further out but still within easy reach for an exploratory morning. Admission should be free, as with most English village churches, though opening times aren't guaranteed so you might find it locked.