The Priory Church of St Mary & St Cuthbert, Worksop

The first thing that strikes you about Worksop Priory is the sheer scale of the nave - soaring stone pillars that draw your eye upward and make you feel properly small. What remains today is essentially the northern transept and choir of a 12th-century Augustinian priory, though enough survives to give you a genuine sense of medieval grandeur. The decorative stone work is intricate if you bother to look closely, and there's something quietly moving about standing in a space where monks chanted for centuries. The church sits right in the middle of Worksop town, which means it's easy to slot into a broader visit without faffing about with transport.

History types will find plenty to occupy them - the architectural details span Norman through to the 16th century, and there's a real sense of how much was lost when Henry VIII's men came through. Families with restless children might find an hour feels long, though the sheer size usually keeps younger visitors engaged for a bit. Walkers gravitate here naturally when staying at Riverside Caravan Park or any of the National Trust's Clumber Park options - it's a two-mile walk across pleasant countryside to the priory from the nearest campsite.

Admission is free and opening hours are generous enough that you can slip in most days. Allow 45 minutes if you're actually reading the information boards, 20 if you're just taking in the atmosphere. It's worth the detour if you're doing the Clumber Park circuit, though it's not the sort of place that'll set your week on fire.