The Alternative

You'll find this place tucked away near Tadcaster, and it's absolutely nothing like the church your gran dragged you to as a kid. The Alternative is a proper working church, but it's been reimagined for people who've written off traditional religion entirely - or at least found it a bit much. What you're actually looking at is a space designed to ask big questions without any of the guilt or the judging looks.

The building itself is the draw. It's intimate rather than imposing, which immediately sets it apart from the usual cathedral experience. You won't find pews in neat rows or organists practising scales - instead there's something more conversational happening. It's worth a visit if you're curious about how faith spaces are evolving, or if you've got teenagers who reckon church is irrelevant. Adults who've drifted away from religion but still crave community will find something here that doesn't feel forced.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Wighill Park Glamping is your closest option at under four miles - this makes a decent half-hour detour. Cawood Park and the York caravan site are both within striking distance too, so you could factor it in alongside whatever else you're doing in the area. Details on opening hours and admission aren't straightforward to pin down, so ring ahead or check their website before you go. It's not a full afternoon's outing, but it's genuinely different.