St Mary of the Angels, Worthing

The soaring red-brick tower of St Mary of the Angels rises abruptly from Chapel Road, impossible to miss as you wander through Worthing's streets. Built in the 1870s for the local Catholic community, it's a proper Victorian statement - all Gothic Revival swagger with pointed arches and that unmistakable austere beauty of High Church architecture.

Inside, the church rewards a closer look. The interior's surprisingly spacious given the neighbourhood's modest suburban character, with decent stained glass and the kind of calm that only comes from thick stone walls and high ceilings. It's functioning parish church rather than museum piece, so expect to find actual worshippers if you visit during Mass times.

This works best for architecture enthusiasts or anyone with a real interest in Victorian ecclesiastical design. Casual visitors might spend twenty minutes max, though the craftsmanship repays proper attention. Kids will likely lose interest quickly unless they're genuinely into old buildings.

Worthing's seafront sits only fifteen minutes walk away, making this a natural pause between beach time and the holiday parks scattered nearby - Beach Park, Eastern Sands, and Onslow Caravan Park are all within a couple of miles. It's the sort of stop you include because you're already in the area, not somewhere worth a dedicated trip. Free to enter whenever the doors are open, though exact visiting hours aren't widely publicised - best to ring ahead or try Sunday morning.