St Oswald's Church, Durham

St Oswald's Church sits in the heart of Durham, and it's one of those places that sneaks up on you. The church dates back to Saxon times - we're talking the 7th century - and the tower alone is properly ancient, built with stone that's weathered more than a millennium of northern weather. Inside, there's a real sense of age, with worn flagstones and stonework that tells you this building has been doing its job for over 1,300 years.

The main draw for most visitors is the connection to St Cuthbert. His body was brought here briefly during its famous journey from Lindisfarne, and that history clings to the place. You'll find yourself reading plaques and studying the architecture with more attention than you might elsewhere - it rewards that curiosity. History buffs will spend a solid hour here; families with kids might manage 20 minutes unless you've got young ones interested in really old things.

It's free to enter, which is excellent. The location works brilliantly if you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Durham Grange is barely two miles away, as is Andy's Woodland. You could easily pair it with a walk around Durham's cathedral quarter (the cathedral itself is unmissable) or combine it with Finchale Abbey, just three miles out, if you're doing a proper historic tour of the area. Go on a quiet weekday if you can; weekends bring the usual tourist traffic.