St Peters, Ugley

The church sits at the heart of Ugley village, a modest but genuine piece of Essex history that doesn't make the tourist board posters. St Peters is a medieval structure with proper bones - flint and stone work that's held up remarkably well through centuries of Essex weather. Inside, you'll find the usual suspects: old pews, a decent chancel, and the sort of quiet that only old churches manage.

It's the kind of place history buffs actually enjoy rather than tick off a list. The churchyard is worth a wander too - proper atmospheric, especially on an overcast afternoon. Don't expect anything flashy. There's no gift shop, no interpretive panels, just the building itself and whatever stories the stones want to tell you.

Dunmow is about ten minutes' drive away, so you could easily combine this with exploring the wider area. If you're staying at Hidden Gem Glamping nearby - and the reviews suggest you absolutely should - St Peters makes for a pleasant hour's outing when the weather's decent. It's free to visit, which is refreshing in an age when everything costs a tenner.

Works best for people who genuinely appreciate old churches rather than those after Instagram moments. Kids will get bored within ten minutes, to be honest. But if you're the type who enjoys reading old inscriptions and thinking about the people who've worshipped here across the centuries, you'll find it worth the detour.