St. Mary’s R C Church

The stone facade of St. Mary's catches you by surprise as you turn into Hexham's quieter streets - all buttresses and Victorian solidity, a proper statement of faith in the middle of a market town. Built in the 19th century when the Catholic presence in Northumberland was quietly reasserting itself, the church is worth a proper look inside if you catch it open. The interior's got that authentic Catholic feel - decent stained glass, a peaceful nave, and the kind of peaceful silence that makes you actually want to sit down for five minutes.

It's not a major sight in the way that Hexham Abbey is, but it works well as part of a wander through the town centre. You could easily spend ten minutes here, fifteen if you're genuinely interested in ecclesiastical architecture or the history of Catholicism in the North East. Real advantage: it's free and usually accessible during daylight hours, though opening times aren't formally published anywhere obvious.

Give it a go if you're staying at Springhouse Boutique Holiday Park nearby - it's only five miles away, so easily fitted into a morning exploring Hexham before heading back to the park. The town itself has enough going on to justify half a day: the abbey, the market square, decent enough cafes. St. Mary's works best as part of that town exploration rather than a destination in itself. Bring the family if they're into old buildings; kids will likely be bored after a couple of minutes though.