St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church

The moment you walk through the doors of St. Mary's, you're confronted with the sort of soaring Victorian Gothic that makes you crane your neck without thinking. This is a proper church - all red brick, pointed arches, and that particular smell of old wood and stone that seems to exist nowhere else on earth. Built in the 19th century, it sits quietly in Louth, a market town that doesn't bang on about itself but rewards a wander around its streets.

What you get here depends entirely on what you're after. History buffs will appreciate the architecture and the craftsmanship - the sort of detail work that would cost an absolute fortune to replicate today. If you're into churches themselves, the interior layout and decoration are worth a proper look. For everyone else, it's a five-minute stop if you're passing through town, maybe ten if you sit in a pew and actually take in the space. There's something grounding about standing in a room where generations have done the same thing.

If you're staying at Stewton Stars Hideaway just down the road, St. Mary's makes an easy leg-stretch during a park holiday - you could tick it off before heading back for afternoon activities. The Lincolnshire Wolds National Landscape is within reasonable distance too, so you could combine this with some proper outdoor time. Fair warning though: opening hours aren't always predictable for smaller churches, so ring ahead or ask at the Louth tourist information before you make a special trip.