St Thomas' Church Walton

Saxon stones peek through the Victorian restoration at this proper old church that's been watching over Walton village for centuries. The original building dates back to the 12th century, though much of what you see today comes from heavy-handed Victorian improvements that frankly did the place no favours. Still, there's enough ancient character left to make it worth a quick stop if you're exploring the area around Stafford.

History buffs will appreciate the medieval fragments scattered throughout - look for the Norman doorway and some decent carved capitals that survived the restorers' enthusiasm. The churchyard holds a few weathered headstones worth examining, though nothing spectacular. Families might struggle to keep younger children engaged for more than fifteen minutes unless they're particularly keen on old buildings.

It's the sort of place that works best as part of a longer walk through the Staffordshire countryside rather than a destination in its own right. The church typically stays open during daylight hours and there's no admission charge, making it a decent rainy-day alternative if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like The White Lodge or Chase Camping at Tackeroo. Give it half an hour at most - enough time to appreciate the surviving medieval bits without getting bogged down in Victorian stonework.