Welsh Martyrs Catholic Church

The Welsh Martyrs Catholic Church sits quietly in Aberystwyth, a Victorian-era building that tells a rather compelling story about religious persecution and resilience in Wales. It's not the sort of place you'd stumble upon by accident - you have to want to find it - but that's rather the point. The church was built to commemorate Catholics who died during the 16th and 17th centuries when practicing the faith in Wales was genuinely dangerous. History buffs will find plenty to absorb here, particularly those interested in how minority religions operated in Britain during darker times.

The building itself has genuine character, done up in proper Victorian Gothic style with the kind of architectural details that reward a slow look around. You won't need more than 30 minutes to 45 minutes to get the feel of the place, though if you're keen on the historical side you might linger longer. It's the sort of church where admission is typically free - worth ringing ahead to confirm opening times, as smaller religious buildings can be unpredictable.

From the holiday parks clustered around Aberystwyth - Aberystwyth Holiday Village is barely half a mile away, with Clarach Bay and Morfa Bychan also nearby - this makes for a decent rainy-day diversion or a cultural breather between beach time. Walkers might combine it with a wander through town; families with older kids interested in Welsh history will get something out of it. Younger children will probably find it a bit static, to be honest.