St John the Baptist's Church, Kirby Wiske

The church sits quietly on the edge of Kirby Wiske, a village that most people drive straight through on their way to somewhere else. St John the Baptist's is worth stopping for, though - it's got real character, the sort of place where you can actually feel the centuries pressing down through the stonework.

Inside, there's a decent Norman nave and some proper medieval features that speak to the building's age. The chancel's been touched up over the years, as these things are, but the bones are genuinely old. If you're into church architecture rather than just ticking boxes, you'll find yourself lingering longer than expected. The light through the windows at certain times of day is rather lovely too.

This is absolutely one for the history-minded visitor. Kids might manage fifteen minutes before getting restless, though if they've got any interest in old buildings it's worth a go. It's free to visit, which is handy - you can just slip in and have a look round without any fuss.

From Thirsk, it's barely any distance at all, so it pairs well with a caravan holiday at Woodland Lakes Lodges or Hillside Caravan Park if you're spending a few days in North Yorkshire. Don't expect crowds or facilities. What you get instead is a genuine village church doing what village churches have done for centuries - standing there, quiet and unshowy. That's rather the point.