St Mary the Virgin, Southwick

The churchyard at Southwick is proper quiet - the sort of place where you can actually hear yourself think. St Mary the Virgin sits just outside Peterborough, a medieval church that's been standing for centuries without making a fuss about it. The building itself is solid, unpretentious, with that grey stone look you see across Northamptonshire. Inside, there's some decent medieval work if you know what to look for - the kind of details that reward a slow wander rather than a quick snap for Instagram.

It's genuinely worth a visit if you're staying at Brightside Caravan Park or New Lodge Farm Bulwick nearby. Both are within easy reach, so you could easily combine it with a morning walk around the village. The churchyard has that peaceful quality that makes you want to linger - gravestone spotting can occupy families for longer than you'd expect, especially if there's a bit of history-spotting involved.

Allow maybe 20 to 30 minutes unless you're really into medieval architecture, in which case you might spend an hour photographing the stonework. There's no visitor centre or café, so it's very much a turn-up-and-explore affair. Check locally before you go about opening times - small churches like this can be unpredictable. The real appeal here is the stillness of it all, not a spectacle. If you're after somewhere genuinely low-key between Peterborough visits, this delivers.