Thurston Church, St Peter's

The tower of St Peter's rises above the Suffolk flatlands like something from a medieval postcard, and it's genuinely one of those churches that stops you mid-drive. Thurston Church sits in proper countryside east of Bury Saint Edmunds, and the interior is worth the detour if you're into medieval architecture - the flint flushwork is exceptional, and the chancel has some real character. You'll spend maybe 20 minutes here if you're keen on stonework and brasses, less if you're just passing through.

It's the sort of place walkers stumble across by accident and then can't stop talking about. The churchyard is peaceful, the kind where you can actually hear yourself think. Access appears to be free, though hours aren't posted anywhere, so assume daylight visits during decent weather.

If you're basing yourself at Bright Meadow Caravan Park just down the road, this makes an easy morning poke around before heading into Bury for lunch. Or if you're staying at The Four Bells Glamping and fancy a gentle cycle ride, the surrounding lanes are lovely and quiet. It's not a showstopper that'll eat up your whole afternoon, but it's exactly the kind of village church that makes a Norfolk and Suffolk holiday feel properly rural rather than theme-park tourism. Folk who love tracing history through stone and timber will get the most from it.