St Peter & St Paul

The church tower rises above Beccles like a friendly sentinel, and St Peter & St Paul sits right at the heart of this riverside market town. It's a proper medieval church - we're talking 14th-century roots - with the kind of detail that rewards a slow wander through the nave. The stone work tells stories if you know where to look, and the interior has that particular smell that only old churches manage: candle wax, old wood, and time itself.

You'll get the most from this place if you actually care about architecture or local history. Families with restless young kids might find 20 minutes enough; older children interested in medieval craftsmanship will spend longer picking out carved details. The churchyard offers a bit of breathing room too, which is useful if anyone needs a break.

It's free to visit, which costs nothing but time - reckon on 30 to 45 minutes for a proper look around. Best visited mid-morning when the light comes through decently and you've got the place mostly to yourself. Summer afternoons draw the tourist crowd.

If you're staying at Pigs in Blankets just down the road (2.7 miles away), this makes a sensible wet-weather or low-key morning slot before hitting one of the bigger outdoor attractions nearby. The town itself has enough about it - decent pubs, shops - to make it more than just a church stop. Worth the detour if you're in the area, though don't go out of your way specially.