St John's

The church sits on high ground overlooking Antrim town, and it's immediately clear why the builders chose this spot. St John's is a solid Victorian structure that dominates the skyline - grey stone, proper imposing, the sort of place that makes you look up. Inside, there's that familiar smell of old wood and hymnal pages, and the light through the stained glass is genuinely lovely on a decent day.

It's worth a proper look if you're interested in Victorian ecclesiastical architecture or you're tracing local history - the graveyard tells stories, and there are monuments worth reading. But be honest with yourself: you're not going to spend hours here unless you're a real church enthusiast. Twenty minutes to half an hour is realistic, maybe more if the doors are open and you want to sit in the pews for a bit.

The real value is how it fits into a walk around Antrim town itself. There's a cracking view across the lough from up here, and it makes a logical stop if you're combining it with a broader mooch around the area. If you're staying at Sett on The Lough just down the way, it's an easy detour and worth doing on your first morning when you're getting your bearings. Don't expect visitor facilities or a gift shop - this is straightforward local Christianity, which is partly what makes it worth seeing.