St John of Beverley Catholic Church

This Victorian Catholic church sits quietly in Hexham, a town that's already got more history than most of England packed into its streets. St John of Beverley is a proper piece of 19th-century architecture - red brick, confident lines, the sort of building that tells you the Catholic community here was thriving when it was built. The interior has that particular calm you get in older churches, with light falling through the windows in a way that makes you slow down whether you meant to or not.

It's not a destination in itself, to be honest. You won't spend hours here. But if you're already exploring Hexham - and you should be, given the abbey and market town centre - stepping inside takes ten minutes and gives you a real sense of how the town evolved. The craftsmanship in the Victorian details is worth a look if you're into that sort of thing.

Families stopping over at Langley Dam Glamping, just 2.5 miles away, could easily slot this into a morning walk around town. It works best as part of a broader Hexham wander rather than a standalone trip. Bring the kids to the market square, grab a coffee, then duck in here between other stops. The church itself is calm enough that restless children won't feel out of place for a brief visit.

Access and opening times aren't well publicised, so check locally when you arrive in Hexham. Being a working parish church, hours depend on services and community use.