Church of St Thomas, Winchelsea

The Church of St Thomas rises above Winchelsea like something from a medieval fever dream - all soaring windows and weathered stone that's seen off centuries of salt spray and neglect. It's a proper ruin in the best possible sense: not tidied up or over-restored, but genuinely atmospheric.

This is a 14th-century parish church that's been through the wringer. The Cinque Ports town of Winchelsea itself was partly destroyed by French raids and coastal erosion, and the church took the brunt of it. Today you can wander through the remains - the chancel's largely gone, the roof's absent, and pigeons have made themselves at home - but the sheer scale of what was built here speaks volumes about medieval ambition and wealth.

History buffs will spend a good hour picking out architectural details and imagining the nave when it was intact. Families with primary-age kids get bored after thirty minutes; there's not much to do except look and climb the odd stone. Walkers treating it as a village waypoint will appreciate the short walk from Winchelsea town centre and the views across the marshes.

Admission's free and unrestricted - you can visit any time. Go early morning or late afternoon when the light's proper golden on the stonework and you've got the place to yourself. If you're staying at Winchelsea Sands Holiday Park just down the road, it's an easy leg-stretch. Pair it with Rye's higgledy-piggledy streets a few miles north, or spend time at Camber Sands for swimming.