St Martin's Church

The church sits on a quiet corner just outside Welwyn Garden City, all grey stone and proper English reserve. St Martin's has been doing its job for centuries - the kind of place where you can actually hear yourself think, which feels rarer by the week. Inside, there's real medieval craftsmanship on show: the chancel holds some genuinely old work, and the whole space has that cool, dim quality that only ancient buildings manage. You're not looking at the flashiest church in Hertfordshire - it's more understated than showy - but that's precisely what makes it worth stopping by if you're in the area.

It works best for anyone keen on church architecture or local history rather than children who need constant entertainment. Half an hour is usually enough to have a proper look around, though if you're the type to sit quietly in pews for a bit longer, that's entirely up to you. Admission appears free, which is standard for working parish churches.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Almshoe Glamping or Church Farm Ardeley are both within a couple of miles - this makes a convenient morning wander before heading somewhere busier. Combine it with other attractions in the area rather than treating it as a destination in itself. The walk out here from Welwyn Garden City takes twenty minutes or so, and it's pleasant enough, threading through ordinary suburban roads that gradually open up a bit.