St Mary's

The church sits quietly in Leicester, a proper medieval structure that rewards a closer look if you're spending time in the East Midlands. St Mary's is the sort of place that locals know well but doesn't cram the visitor boards - which means you'll likely have some peace to actually appreciate the stonework and interior without fighting crowds.

Inside, there's genuine medieval architecture to examine: the kind of thing that makes sense of why people bothered building these places in the first place. The craftsmanship in the details - stone work, timber - tells you something about how seriously they took their religion back then. It's not a showstopper in the way Durham or Lincoln cathedrals are, but it's absolutely worth an hour if you're in the area.

The real draw here is combining it with a proper countryside stay. Both Reas Glamping Retreat at Zillahs Spinney (just 3.8 miles away) and Fox's Furrow offer the kind of accommodation that makes sense for a Leicestershire break - you're after fresh air and local history, not theme parks. Pop into the church on a quiet afternoon, then head back for an evening at your glamping site.

If you've got church-spotting as part of your holiday itinerary, this one fits the bill. It's the kind of afternoon activity that actually feels purposeful rather than tacked on. Allow an hour, grab a leaflet if they have one, and enjoy the fact you're not fighting your way through a tourism machine.