St. Mary's Church, Melton Mowbray

The spire of St. Mary's dominates Melton Mowbray's skyline long before you reach it, a proper statement of medieval ambition rising above the market town. Walk through the centre and you'll find yourself standing before one of the Midlands' finest parish churches, all soaring perpendicular Gothic and intricate stonework that rewards a slow circuit on foot.

Inside, the scale is genuinely impressive. High ceilings, long nave, and that particular light which only old churches manage - it filters through the windows in a way modern buildings simply don't replicate. The craftsmanship in the woodwork and the detail of the monuments tell you this was a wealthy place, built on the back of the wool trade and later the hosiery industry. You'll spend a good hour here if you're interested in medieval architecture; less if you're just passing through.

It's free to enter and open during reasonable hours - pop in when you're exploring Melton itself, which is worth a wander regardless for the pork pie shops and the general market-town charm. If you're camped at Eye Kettleby Lakes or The Grange, both barely a mile away, this makes a proper rainy-day activity or a cultural break from the caravan routine. Families with older children who can appreciate architecture won't find it tedious, though very young kids might need a distraction.

The church feels lived-in rather than museified, which is what you want from these places.