St. Mary the Virgin, Willingdon

A solid 13th-century parish church standing on the edge of Willingdon, just inland from Pevensey. St. Mary the Virgin isn't flashy - it's the real thing: proper medieval work with the kind of quiet dignity that comes from six centuries of Sunday services and village life.

Inside, you get the essentials done well. The chancel has genuine period character, and there's enough detail in the stonework and fixtures to keep history types occupied for twenty minutes or so. It's the sort of church where you can actually read the plaques and think about the people buried underneath.

Walkers will find it a worthwhile detour if you're rambling the Pevensey area - the churchyard itself is pleasant, with decent views across the South Downs to the north. Getting there from Pevensey takes about ten minutes by car, or a decent walk if you're properly geared up. There's no admission charge, though you'll need to check locally for opening times as these vary.

If you're based at Pevensey Bay Holiday Park or the Normans Bay site, this makes an easy break from the coastal routine without eating up half a day. Families with younger kids might find it a quick stop rather than a main event, but anyone interested in local history or just wanting to understand how these villages actually developed will get something from it. The real appeal is the ordinariness of it - no tourist machinery, just a working village church doing what it's always done.