The Parish Church of All Saints & St James, King's Cliffe

King's Cliffe sits quietly in the Northamptonshire countryside, about half an hour south of Peterborough, and its parish church is one of those places that rewards a proper look around. The building itself dates back to the 14th century, though it's been tinkered with since - there's a tower added later, and enough Victorian restoration to keep any architecture spotter happy. Inside, the stone work is proper impressive, especially if you catch it on a sunny afternoon when light floods through the windows. You'll find yourself standing in front of monuments and brasses that tell the story of local families who mattered once upon a time.

It's the sort of church that appeals most to walkers and history types rather than families with restless kids. You can wander round at your own pace, study the monuments, and get a genuine sense of what church life looked like centuries ago. There's no charge that I'm aware of, and you can usually pop in during daylight hours - best to check ahead if you're making a special trip though, as opening times aren't widely advertised.

If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Rockingham Forest Park is just over two miles away - this makes a decent hour-long detour on a village walk. Pair it with a stroll around King's Cliffe itself, which has that solid English village charm without being precious about it. It's not going to be a highlight of your week, but it's absolutely worth the diversion if you're already in the area exploring Northamptonshire's stone villages.