St Mary's Church, Radcliffe on Trent

The church sits right in the heart of Radcliffe on Trent, a village that feels properly removed from Nottingham despite being only a few miles south. St Mary's is a solid medieval parish church - the kind of building that anchors a village and rewards a quiet half-hour of poking about inside.

You'll find the usual suspects: stone arches, a decent nave, and enough carved details to keep architecture types engaged. The churchyard itself is pleasant enough for a wander, with proper old gravestones if you're into that sort of thing. It's the sort of place that works best if you're not expecting fireworks - more a case of stepping out of the day and taking stock.

Not one for keeping kids entertained for hours, but fine if you're passing through the village and fancy a look. It's free, obviously, and there's no faffing about with opening hours if the door's unlocked - which it usually is during daylight. Allow twenty minutes maximum unless you're genuinely keen on the stonework.

If you're based at Gunthorpe Camping nearby, it's a straightforward drive into the village. Pair it with a walk along the Trent or a pub lunch and you've got a decent half-day sorted. It's not the reason you'd come to the area, but it's exactly the sort of stop that makes a local holiday feel properly local rather than just passing through.