St John the Baptist Church

You'll find this medieval church standing quietly in Warwickshire, just a few miles outside Coventry - the sort of place you stumble upon rather than plan to visit. St John the Baptist has the solid, no-nonsense feel of a working parish church that's been doing its job for centuries, with proper period stonework and the kind of interior that rewards a slow wander.

The church itself is genuinely worth an hour if you're into ecclesiastical architecture or local history. You can usually get in during daylight hours, and there's no charge. It's the sort of spot that appeals to church historians and walkers more than families with young kids - unless yours are the type who enjoy graveyards and old monuments, in which case they might find it atmospheric rather than boring.

What makes it work is location. It's close enough to Coventry for a day trip, but far enough out that it feels like proper countryside. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Aylesmore Farm, Hollyfast, or Holt Farm are all within a few miles - you've got a peaceful walk to somewhere with genuine character, rather than another overdone visitor attraction.

Go early morning or late afternoon when you'll have the place to yourself. Bring a notebook if you're the sort to record gravestones. And honestly, don't make a special journey just for this - but if you're camping nearby, absolutely do the walk out. You'll understand why locals have kept coming back here for eight centuries.