St Mark's Church

The church sits quietly on a rise above Hexham, unremarkable from the road until you're standing inside. St Mark's is Victorian - built in the 1870s - which means it lacks the medieval drama of older churches, but there's something honest about that. The interior is plain without being cold: good light through decent windows, hymn boards still in place, the kind of space where you actually want to sit for five minutes.

It's the sort of stop that works best if you're already in Hexham visiting the abbey or wandering the town itself. Don't make a special journey here. But if you're doing a leisurely morning around town before heading back to Panoramic Pods or Langley Dam Glamping, it's worth the short walk up. Takes maybe twenty minutes to look around properly - longer if you're the type to read every memorial.

Families with restless kids might find it dull. Serious church enthusiasts will probably want something older. But if you appreciate straightforward Victorian architecture and aren't afraid of a bit of quiet, this does its job well. The setting is pleasant enough, and there's rarely a crowd, which beats fighting for space in the big attractions.