St Michael & All Angels' Church, Heavitree

The church sits quietly on the edge of Heavitree, a suburb that's been swallowed into Exeter's sprawl, but stepping through the door of St Michael & All Angels' feels like dropping into another century entirely. This is a proper medieval parish church, the kind that anchors a community, and it's got the bones to prove it - 15th century work mostly, with enough later additions to keep things interesting if you're into that sort of thing.

Inside, it's all soaring stone and light through old windows. The chancel's the real draw here if you care about architecture - there's medieval stonework that speaks volumes about the craftsmanship of people you'll never know. It's not enormous, which somehow makes it more human than the cathedral you'd find closer to Exeter city centre.

You won't need long - thirty minutes at most, unless you're the type who reads every plaque and sits in silence for a bit. The churchyard's pleasant for a wander too, all tilted headstones and moss. Heavitree itself is fairly residential and unremarkable, so this works best as a stop-off rather than a destination in itself, particularly if you're staying at Devon Heaven Hideaways nearby and fancy an afternoon exploring Exeter's outer edges.

It's free to visit, obviously. Go on a weekday morning if you can - quieter, and the light's usually better. Families with older kids interested in history will get something from it. Everyone else? Fifteen minutes and you're done.