St Mary & St George Catholic Church

The twin spires of St Mary & St George rise above Totnes with genuine presence - you spot them long before you walk through the doors. This is a proper Victorian Catholic church, built when the faith was still finding its footing in Protestant Devon, and it's unmissable if you're into nineteenth-century architecture and that peculiar moment when Gothic Revival met industrial England.

Inside, the space is surprisingly light and airy. The stained glass catches the afternoon sun beautifully, and there's none of that claustrophobic gloom you sometimes get in older chapels. If you're walking through Totnes - which you likely will be, given it's the market town hub - this takes about thirty minutes to explore properly without rushing. The church sits right in the town centre, so it slots easily into a morning's wandering between the cafes and independent shops.

It's not a destination in itself, but it's absolutely worth the fifteen-minute detour if you're staying at Ashbourne Woods just down the road. The nearby park makes a good base for exploring Totnes itself, and the church adds real texture to an afternoon stroll. Families won't find it gripping for long - kids need about ten minutes - but anyone interested in Devon's religious heritage or Victorian craftsmanship will find it genuinely rewarding. The actual opening times aren't widely advertised, so aim for daytime visits when you're likely to find it unlocked.