Edmund King & Martyr

A church dedicated to a Saxon king murdered in 869 - that's your starting point here in Colchester. St Edmund's sits quietly on the edge of town, and it's the sort of place that rewards a quick stop if you're already in the area rather than a destination in itself.

The interior tells the story. Edmund, King of East Anglia, was killed by Viking raiders and became one of England's early Christian martyrs. The church itself is medieval, though obviously built long after his death, and contains some decent Victorian stained glass and the kind of peaceful atmosphere you get in parish churches that haven't been messed about with too much.

Historically minded visitors will find it worth twenty minutes or so. It's straightforward rather than spectacular - no grand monuments or theatrical displays - but that's rather the point. You're standing in a space that's been used for worship for roughly nine hundred years, which carries its own weight.

Nearby Colchester itself offers more substantial attractions if this piques your interest. If you're camping at Rushbanks Farm or The Huts at Woodthorpes - both within two miles - the church is an easy addition to a broader Colchester day rather than the main event. Pop in during daylight hours when it's typically open to visitors, though calling ahead wouldn't go amiss given it's a working parish church.

Free to enter, takes about fifteen to twenty minutes including a read of the information boards. Solid if you're into Saxon history or just passing through town.