St Mary's

The church sits quietly on the edge of Nottingham, all buttresses and worn stone. St Mary's is proper medieval - we're talking 14th century foundations - and it shows in every creaky floorboard and high vaulted ceiling. Inside, there's that particular smell that only old churches have: a mix of damp stone, old wood, and something else you can't quite place. The stained glass catches the light differently depending on the hour, and if you time it right around late afternoon, the whole nave glows.

It's one for history enthusiasts rather than a quickfire tourist tick-box. You'll spend a good 45 minutes properly exploring if you're reading the plaques and looking up at the roof bosses. Families with young kids might find it a bit solemn - there's not much here to grab their attention beyond "look, that's really old". But if you've got teenagers with even passing interest in architecture or medieval England, they'll find it genuinely interesting.

The obvious move is to base yourself at Janson Fishery Caravan & Camping just three miles down the road - close enough for a morning visit without being right on top of the town. St Mary's won't take your whole afternoon, so pair it with a wander around central Nottingham's other medieval bits. No entry fee that I could establish, which means you can duck in between other activities without worrying about the cost. Just check ahead on opening times - it's not staffed every hour.