St Pauls

The cathedral here is one of those places that stops you dead when you walk in. St Paul's in Bishop Auckland sits on what was once a Saxon settlement, and you can feel the weight of that history the moment you step through the doors. It's a working church, not a museum piece, which gives it a different energy than some of the grander cathedrals further south.

What strikes you first is the light. The windows are proper stunning - the way it floods through them in the afternoon gives the whole interior this warm, almost ethereal quality. The choir stalls are intricate, and if you're into medieval woodcarving or ecclesiastical architecture, you could easily spend an hour poking around the details. The crypt is worth a look too, though opening times can be a bit sporadic.

It's not a destination on its own - you'll do the whole thing in thirty minutes or so - but it slots perfectly into a wider wander around Bishop Auckland itself. The town's got reasonable shops and cafes, and it sits handily for exploring the rest of County Durham. If you're staying at Stag Park or Bradley Burn, both just down the road, this is exactly the sort of low-key cultural stop that breaks up a caravan holiday nicely. Families won't complain - kids are usually intrigued by the architecture, though it's not interactive.

Check ahead on opening hours before you visit, as they do vary depending on services.