St Nicholas Church, Asthall

The grey stone church sits quietly in Asthall village, just a short drive from Witney, looking rather like it's been minding its own business for the best part of a thousand years. St Nicholas Church is proper medieval - 12th century at its heart - with the sort of worn stone and narrow windows you expect from buildings that have actually endured rather than been restored to death.

Inside, there's real character. The church has kept its original features: a decent Norman font, some decent medieval stonework, and that particular smell of old wood and quietness that makes you speak in hushed tones without meaning to. The chancel and nave give it decent proportions without being grand, which is rather the point of Asthall itself - it's all gentle, unshowy charm.

This isn't a destination in itself. You won't spend hours here. But if you're staying at Wysdom Touring Park nearby, or wandering around the Oxfordshire villages between Witney and Burford, it's absolutely worth the five-minute detour. The church sits right in the village so parking is straightforward, and there's usually someone about if you want to look inside, though it pays to check locally for opening times.

It appeals most to walkers and village enthusiasts - the sort of people who enjoy having a proper look around a building with real bones rather than a gift shop. Families with young children might find it a bit static, but if your kids are old enough to appreciate old stone and history without fidgeting, they'll get something from it.