St John's, Padstow Methodist Church

The tall Victorian chapel sitting on the corner of Dennis Road isn't what most visitors to Padstow expect to find. St John's Methodist Church is a proper piece of 19th-century nonconformist architecture, all red brick and purposeful lines - no fancy flourishes, just honest design that tells you exactly what it was built for. You'll spot it easily enough, wedged between the town's harbor-facing restaurants and the quieter residential streets that slope uphill from the quay.

This is mainly for people with a genuine interest in religious or industrial heritage. The Methodists were everywhere in Victorian Cornwall, and this building stands as a reminder of that movement's reach into even the smallest coastal towns. You won't spend long inside - twenty minutes covers it comfortably - but if you're into Victorian architecture or tracing nonconformist history through the West Country, it's worth a look. The interior is simple and somewhat austere, which is rather the point.

Unfortunately, opening hours and admission details aren't readily available, so your best bet is ringing ahead or checking with the Padstow visitor information. If you're staying at Dennis Cove Campsite or Padstow Holiday Village, both within walking distance, you could easily slot this into a morning exploring the town's quieter corners before heading to the harbor. It's the kind of thing that takes five minutes out of your way and occasionally reveals something genuinely interesting about how ordinary Victorian people actually lived and worshipped.