The Crypt at St Leonard's Church Hythe

Down a narrow flight of stone steps beneath St Leonard's Church in Hythe lies something genuinely unsettling - a crypt containing the skeletal remains of what's believed to be around 8,000 people, stacked in neat rows along the walls. It's the kind of place that makes you hold your breath. The bones are centuries old, likely dating back to medieval times when plague and disease meant the churchyard simply couldn't cope.

You're walking through actual history here, not a reconstruction or museum display. The limestone skulls are arranged almost decoratively along the ledges, with long bones stacked beneath them. It's macabre but strangely respectful - there's no sensationalism, just the blunt reality of how people dealt with mass death before modern burial practices existed.

This is absolutely not a place for young children, and frankly, it's not for everyone. But if you've got the stomach for it and an interest in medieval life and death, it's genuinely fascinating. The crypt sits beneath a proper working church, so access depends on opening hours and clergy availability - ring ahead to check. Admission is typically free, though a small donation is expected.

Hythe itself is a quiet coastal town on Romney Marsh, and the church sits right in the centre. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like New Beach or Daleacres, it's an easy visit. Port Lympne Safari Park is also close by if you need something lighter-hearted for the rest of your day.