St Michael's and All Angels, Church

The church sits on the high ground north of Tring, a solid Victorian rebuild that replaced an earlier medieval structure. You'll find it's one of those proper parish churches that actually feels lived-in rather than locked up and forgotten - the sort of place where locals still gather and the altar flowers change with the seasons.

Inside, there's decent stained glass and the usual Victorian craftsmanship that comes from the era when churches got serious money spent on them. The setting's the real draw though. Walk up from Tring itself and you get proper views across the Chiltern Hills, which makes the trip worthwhile even if ecclesiastical architecture isn't usually your thing.

It works well as a walking destination if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Chiltern Yurts or Wingbury Farm are both close enough for a morning ramble. Bring the kids if they're the type who'll actually make it up the hill without complaining; anyone under eight will likely lose interest after ten minutes. The churchyard's pleasant enough for a sit-down with a flask though, so pack a thermos.

Admission's typically free for parish churches, though do check locally. Allow 30-45 minutes if you're combining it with a proper walk. Winter's quieter and gives you better sight lines across the valley. Summer crowds are minimal - Tring draws visitors to its natural history museum and reservoirs rather than the church, which suits the place fine.