St Mary Magdalene Church, Newark-on-Trent

The spire of St Mary Magdalene dominates Newark's skyline - you'll spot it from miles around, and up close it's even more impressive. This is a proper medieval church, all soaring perpendicular Gothic with the kind of proportions that make you crane your neck until your jaw aches.

Inside, the main draw is the sheer scale of the nave. Light floods through tall windows, and if you catch it on a clear day the stonework practically glows. There's some decent medieval and Tudor craftsmanship to poke around - monuments, carved details, the sort of thing that appeals to history types without requiring a PhD to appreciate. The chancel repays a proper look.

It's free to wander in during the day, though hours vary so worth checking locally before you trek into Newark town centre. You'll spend anything from twenty minutes to an hour depending on whether you're just taking in the architecture or reading every plaque. If kids are with you, they might get restless unless they're into spotting gargoyles and old tombs - it's not interactive.

Sits well with a broader exploration of Newark itself, which has decent medieval bones despite wartime bombing. The town's walkable enough. If you're based at BrackenXcapes or one of the other glamping spots within five miles - Witham Grange or Southwell Retreat - it's an easy run in for an afternoon stop rather than a destination in itself. Worth the detour if you're already in the area; don't travel specifically for it.