St Mary's Church, Halifax

The wool merchants of Halifax built St Mary's to match their ambitions - a proper grand church that still dominates the town centre skyline. Inside, it's all soaring columns and light streaming through tall windows, with enough carved stone detail to keep you looking for a good half hour. The church sits right in the middle of Halifax, so you're never far from the town's cafes and shops, which is handy when you need a break from hymn books.

It's worth a visit if you're into ecclesiastical architecture or local history, though I'll be honest - after twenty minutes the appeal runs thin unless something's on. The real draw is how it sits within Halifax's broader heritage. You're minutes from the textile mills that made the town's fortune and the moorland that surrounds it.

Stay at Elland Hall Farm Caravan Park, just 2.6 miles away, and you're positioned perfectly for exploring both the town and the Calderdale Way walking routes that thread through the valleys nearby. Hebden Bridge Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite, five miles north, puts you closer to the mills and the moorland villages - better for walkers wanting wilder terrain. Two Acre Camping and Old Chamber Camping offer quieter alternatives if you want less infrastructure and more peace and quiet.

Visit during daylight hours - the architecture reads better when natural light fills the building. Aim for a weekday if you want to actually get inside; weekend services can make casual visits tricky.