St John's

St John's sits quietly in Lincoln, one of those medieval churches that rewards a proper wander round if you're already in the city centre. It's a working parish church rather than a tourist machine, which means you'll get the real thing - worn stone, proper stained glass, and the kind of acoustics that make you want to whisper.

The building itself is straightforward Lincolnshire Gothic, the sort of solid, no-nonsense architecture that's been doing its job for centuries. Inside, there's decent medieval work to spot if you know what you're looking at - brasses, some original stonework, the usual church treasures. It won't keep architecture obsessives busy for more than half an hour, but it's worth the detour if you're already exploring Lincoln's streets.

Historically minded visitors will get more from it than kids, frankly. There's no grand narrative or interactive element here - just a church doing what churches do. But that's rather the point. Most admission to working parish churches in Lincolnshire is free or by donation, though it's worth checking on the day.

If you're basing yourself at Hartsholme Country Park, just 2.4 miles away, it's an easy addition to a Lincoln morning before heading back to the campsite. Same goes from Hanworth Country Park a bit further out. Pair it with Lincoln Cathedral if you've got time - that's the real showstopper - but St John's makes a solid, unpretentious companion visit.