The Church of St James

The Church of St James sits quietly in Leicestershire, a proper medieval structure that rewards a closer look if you're camping nearby at Bosworth Caravan Park or The Dandelion Hideaway. It's the kind of place that locals walk past without thinking, but visitors often find themselves stopping mid-stride to take in the stonework and the sense of something genuinely old.

What you get is a working parish church with the bones of medieval architecture - think sturdy walls, traditional features, and the usual peaceful churchyard. It's not a showstopper like Coventry Cathedral, but that's rather the point. You're looking at real village life, centuries of it, without the crowds or the gift shop.

This appeals most to walkers and history types doing a proper circuit around Nuneaton, or families with teenagers interested in actual local heritage rather than theme parks. Give yourself twenty minutes to potter around properly. The churchyard is often worth a wander too.

Practical stuff: opening hours tend to vary for working churches, so best to check locally when you arrive at your caravan or glamping site. Entry is typically free, though a donation box often sits by the door. If you're basing yourself at Bosworth Lakeside Lodges or one of the other parks in the area, it's close enough for a morning stroll before heading to bigger attractions.

Honestly, on its own it's a brief stop. Combined with a wider walk around the village or as part of a day exploring Leicestershire churches, it slots in nicely. Not everyone's cup of tea, but refreshingly unpretentious.