The Pennine

There's something about approaching Beverley's Minster that stops you mid-stride. The Pennine - that's what locals call this vast Gothic church - rises from the market town like it's been there forever, which, truthfully, it nearly has. Built over centuries starting in the 13th, it's one of those churches that makes you understand why people bothered with architecture before Instagram existed.

Walking through the west doors, the scale hits you properly. Twin naves soar overhead, ceilings decorated with ornate carvings that must have taken some poor craftsman years to complete. The choir stalls are intricate work - Percy Canons and all that medieval detail that makes you squint trying to spot the tiny faces carved into the wood. It's the sort of place where you can easily spend two hours poking about, running your hands along stonework, working out the geometry of those vaults.

For history enthusiasts, this is essential. Kids might fidget after thirty minutes unless they're the type who like hunting for gargoyles and carved misericords. The town itself - Beverley - wraps around it nicely with decent pubs and cafes for afterwards. If you're based at High Farm Holiday Park, it's a straightforward drive south, making it a solid half-day outing without feeling like you're dragging people somewhere dull.

Free to wander round, though donations are appreciated. Go early on a weekday if you want the place mostly to yourself.