St Mary the Virgin

The moment you push open the heavy wooden doors at St Mary the Virgin in Beverley, you're confronted with soaring Gothic arches and light flooding through stained glass. It's the sort of church that stops you mid-step.

This is a proper medieval statement piece - built over centuries, with a 15th-century chancel that's genuinely breathtaking and misericords carved with such detail you'll want to spend twenty minutes just spotting the hidden jokes in the woodwork. The roof bosses alone are worth the visit if you've got a decent neck and some patience with binoculars.

It's less crowded than Beverley Minster, which makes it actually possible to stand and think rather than shuffle around a coach tour. History types will lose themselves in here. Families with older kids who aren't liable to kick off after ten minutes will find it engaging. Very young children might struggle with the "don't touch, don't shout" requirement.

Free to enter as far as I can tell, and no time limit - you'll comfortably spend an hour if you're thorough, half that if you're just popping in. Go on a weekday morning when it's genuinely quiet. It's five minutes from Beverley town centre on foot.

If you're basing yourself at William's Den or Spring Valley Campsite, this is a straightforward morning jaunt before heading back for lunch. Pair it with Beverley Minster across town and you've got a solid half-day of medieval architecture without feeling rushed.