York Minster

Walking into York Minster stops you dead. The sheer scale of it - 200 feet of perpendicular Gothic towering above the medieval streets - hits differently when you're standing right beneath it, neck craned back like a tourist cliché. But that's only fair, because it's genuinely one of the finest cathedrals in Europe.

Inside, the light through the stained glass does something to your brain. The Great East Window alone - all those intricate panes telling biblical stories - could keep you occupied for half an hour if you're into that sort of thing. The nave stretches away with this quiet, contemplative weight to it that even confirmed atheists seem to respect. There's also a working kitchen and cloister you can explore, plus if you're keen, you can climb the tower for Yorkshire views that stretch for miles.

It's free to wander around, though donations are suggested and they're worth giving - keeping a building this old upright costs proper money. Allow a solid hour minimum; three hours if you're climbing and want coffee in the undercroft café.

Historically minded types will love the medieval craftsmanship, families won't get bored if you're not rushing them, and photographers will find angles all day. It's right in York's city centre, so pairs brilliantly with a park stay at Nurseries or Wagtail - you're only a fifteen-minute walk from the city when you want a break from caravanning.