Bishopthorpe Palace

The Archbishop of York's official residence sits just outside York, and unlike many grand ecclesiastical piles, you can actually see it from the road without needing special access or a guided tour booking. Bishopthorpe Palace is a working home, not a museum, so expectations need recalibrating straight away - this isn't somewhere you wander round for two hours examining furniture.

What you're really here for is the exterior. The palace sits right on the River Ouse, and the Georgian and Victorian architecture is genuinely handsome, particularly the brick work and those tall sash windows. The grounds are substantial and private, but the public footpath gives decent views, especially if the light's right.

It's the kind of place that appeals more to architecture enthusiasts and local history buffs than to families after an afternoon's entertainment. You'll spend twenty minutes taking photos and absorbing the atmosphere - the weight of it all, the centuries of ecclesiastical power - rather than hours. Worth a detour if you're cycling or walking between York and Cawood Park, which sits about six miles away. The ride between the two along the Ouse Vale is rather pleasant.

If you're staying at Cawood Park and fancy stretching your legs, combine this with a walk into York proper or along the riverbank paths. Don't expect to knock on the door - it's a private residence. But from the public paths, you'll get a genuine feel for how the Church of England's top man lives when he's not in Canterbury.