St John the Baptist Corby

The church sits on the high street in Corby, a proper Victorian ironworks town that's rarely on anyone's radar. St John the Baptist is one of the few reasons to slow down here, and it's worth twenty minutes of your time if you're passing through from Peterborough.

It's a solid stone building with a tower that doesn't shout about itself, but step inside and you'll find the kind of Victorian craftsmanship that defined this era. The interior work is genuinely impressive - good stained glass, decent woodcarving, the lot. Nothing flashy, just thorough. This was built when Corby's iron industry was booming, and you can feel the money that went into it.

Historically minded types will get more from a visit than kids will. There's no interactive nonsense, no café, just a church being a church. If you've got a genuine interest in Victorian religious architecture or Northamptonshire's industrial heritage, it's worth the detour. Everyone else should slot it in if you're already in town.

Admission appears to be free, though opening hours aren't widely advertised - it's best to ring ahead or try during standard daytime hours. Allow half an hour, forty minutes if you're the type who reads plaques.

If you're staying at Brightside Caravan Park or New Lodge Farm Bulwick, both within five miles, Corby makes an easy morning poke-about before heading elsewhere in the region. Don't expect a day trip on its own, though.