St. Thomas's Cross

A weathered stone cross stands alone in the Leicestershire countryside near Lutterworth, marking a spot where medieval pilgrims once passed. St. Thomas's Cross is what remains of a wayside shrine - the kind of monument that medieval travellers would have stopped at to say a prayer or leave an offering before moving on. What you get is essentially a solitary cross, worn by centuries of English weather, sitting in open farmland with wide views across the fields.

It's not a flashy attraction. There's no visitor centre, no car park, no heritage interpretation boards telling you exactly what to think. You'll need to hunt it down on foot across farmland, which is partly why it feels authentic rather than packaged. History buffs will appreciate standing at a genuine medieval waypoint; families with young walkers might find the pilgrimage aspect interesting, though the site itself takes five minutes to look around properly.

The real appeal comes if you're already exploring this corner of Leicestershire with a holiday base at one of the nearby parks. Caravanning and Camping at Manor Farm is just 1.4 miles away, making this a doable half-hour walk from your pitch. Meadow Field Luxury Glamping is similarly close at 3.4 miles. It works best as part of a broader ramble through the countryside rather than a destination in its own right.

Go in dry weather - you'll be crossing fields - and allow time to actually enjoy the walk getting there. The cross itself is free and always accessible, which is refreshing in its simplicity.