Church of St John the Evangelist

The Church of St John the Evangelist sits quietly on the Northumberland landscape, a proper medieval structure that doesn't shout about itself. You won't find the crowds here that swarm bigger attractions, which is precisely why it's worth seeking out if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping parks.

What you're looking at is genuine medieval stonework - the kind of thing that makes church enthusiasts actually lose their minds over carved details and architectural oddities. The interior has that hushed, slightly cold feeling English country churches do so well, with enough historical layers to keep anyone interested in the medieval period occupied for a solid hour. If your kids are at that stage where they find old buildings tedious, this won't change their minds - but for adults who like walking through history rather than reading about it, it's the real thing.

It's free to visit, which removes any sting from making the journey out from Newcastle. No gift shop, no visitor facilities, just the church and whatever light comes through the windows on the day you visit. That simplicity is rather refreshing.

Based near the excellent glamping options around Northumberland - particularly if you're at GlamPods or Wild Northumberland - this works as a proper countryside morning before you head back to your pod. Combine it with a walk through the surrounding Northumberland hills and you've got a genuinely local experience most tourists miss entirely.