Christ Church Woodbury

The church sits in the village of Woodbury, a few miles inland from Exeter, and it's one of those proper Devon churches that rewards a quiet wander. Christ Church itself is Victorian - built in the 1840s - so it lacks the medieval charm some visitors hunt for, but the interior has genuine character: decent woodwork, a peacefully maintained chancel, and the kind of light that makes you want to sit in the pews for longer than you planned.

Woodbury village itself is the real draw. It's a working settlement, not a tourist trap, which means you get the genuine article - a village green, proper local pubs, and the sort of peace that makes you remember why people move to Devon in the first place. The church fits neatly into a morning walk around the village, perhaps combining it with a stroll up to Woodbury Common if you've got the legs for it.

Worth an hour, tops, unless you're a serious church historian or you've decided to base yourself in the area. It's free to visit - just respect that it's an active parish church, so check service times before you arrive. If you're staying at Castle Brake Holiday Park just down the road, it's an easy leg-stretch. The surrounding Devon Cliffs resorts are a bit too far for a casual drop-in, but Woodbury makes sense as part of a broader Exeter-area circuit. The village quietness is the point here - come expecting simplicity, and you'll leave content.