St Martin's Church, Aldington

The church sits quietly at the heart of Aldington village, a few miles inland from Hythe, and it's one of those places that rewards a proper wander if you're staying in the area. St Martin's is a solid medieval building - not flashy, but genuinely interesting if you care about church architecture. The nave's quite striking with its timber roof, and there's some decent medieval glass if you know where to look.

It's the sort of spot that appeals to history types and anyone doing the Kent church crawl rather than families with restless kids. You won't need more than 30 minutes here unless you're really into medieval masonry and want to sit with the history for a bit. The churchyard is worth a look too - proper old gravestones, the kind of place that feels like stepping back in time without any of the tourist nonsense.

If you're camping at Port Lympne Safari Park just down the road, this makes an easy detour between animal encounters. Daleacres Caravan Club and Fallow Fields are also close enough that you could work it into a morning before heading to the coast at New Beach or Cabu. Admission's usually free for churches like this, though you might find a donations box by the door.

Honestly? Don't go out of your way for it if you're time-tight, but if you're exploring the Romney Marsh area or based nearby, it's well worth the 15-minute stop. Real rather than showy.