St Peter & St Paul's Church

The church sits on a quiet corner of Northampton's edge, and it's worth stopping for if you've got ten minutes spare between park visits. St Peter & St Paul's is a proper medieval church - the sort that's been doing its job for centuries without much fuss. Inside, the stone walls and arches give you that familiar cool-church feeling, and there's enough detail in the woodwork and stonework to keep history types occupied for a bit.

Families with younger kids might find it a quick stop rather than a full afternoon, but if you're the sort who enjoys old churches and want to tick one off while staying at Grendon Lakes (which is only 6 miles away), it makes sense. The building itself tells you something about medieval Northamptonshire - no pretentious grand statements, just solid work.

You won't need more than half an hour here. It's free to pop in, which is always a bonus. The real draw is combining it with the parks in the area rather than making a special trip on its own. If you're at Grendon Lakes and fancy a quiet walk away from the lakes themselves, this gives you a genuine reason to head into Northampton proper. Not a must-do, but a decent cultural breather between activities.