St Margaret Mary RC Church

The red brick Victorian church stands quite prominently on the edge of Southampton, a sturdy reminder of 19th-century Catholic ambition in what was then largely Protestant territory. St Margaret Mary is a proper working parish church - not a museum piece - so you'll find locals there most days rather than tour groups shuffling about with guidebooks.

What strikes you first is the solidity of it. The interior has that warm, candlelit glow typical of Catholic churches from this era, with decent stained glass and a reasonably ornate altar. It's the kind of place where you can sit for twenty minutes without feeling rushed, which counts for something these days.

Historically it matters to Southampton's Irish Catholic community - built when anti-Catholic sentiment was still kicking about, it's a statement of sorts. But if you're not particularly interested in Victorian religious architecture, an hour's visit probably does it. Kids will get restless unless they're the contemplative type.

If you're camping at Rookesbury Park, it's only five miles away, so easily combined with a Southampton shopping trip or a walk along the waterfront. Worth a detour if you're into church interiors and local social history, but don't make it your reason for visiting the area. Spring light through those windows is genuinely lovely though - go then if you can.