Tubestation

The church at Tubestation is one of those finds that makes you wonder how many people actually know it's there. Tucked away near Polzeath in North Cornwall, it's a proper working parish church rather than a museum piece, which means you'll get the real thing - not a polished tourist attraction.

What you're looking at is a small, traditional Cornish church with the kind of solid, no-nonsense architecture you see dotted across the county. The interior is where it gets interesting if you're into ecclesiastical detail - there's usually something worth noticing if you take five minutes to look properly. It's the sort of place where you can actually sit quietly without crowds, which counts for a lot these days.

This works best for anyone doing a slow coastal walk around Polzeath. If you're staying at Porthilly Beach Holiday Park or St Minver Holiday Park nearby, you could easily call in without adding much to your route. It's not a full afternoon's activity - twenty minutes is realistic - but it's exactly the kind of local church visit that makes a holiday feel less touristy and more like you've actually seen how people live here.

The main thing to check before you go is whether there's a service on - these places operate on parish schedules, not visitor hours. Ring ahead or ask at your holiday park. Admission is free, obviously, and it costs nothing to have a proper look around.