Joy of All Who Sorrow

The Joy of All Who Sorrow is a working church just outside Bungay in Norfolk, and it's one of those places that rewards you simply for turning up. The name alone stops you in your tracks - it's not what you'd expect on a village church signboard. Step inside and the proportions are modest, genuinely intimate in the way medieval churches often are when you actually find yourself alone in one rather than herding round with twenty others.

It's the sort of place history types find themselves lingering in unexpectedly. The building tells you something real about Norfolk's past - stone, light through old glass, the particular smell of centuries. You won't need more than thirty minutes here, but those thirty minutes have weight to them. Families with younger children might find it a bit quiet, unless you're the sort who enjoys teaching kids to move slowly and look properly.

I'd recommend calling ahead or checking locally in Bungay - opening hours can be variable for smaller churches, and admission details aren't always publicised online. It's free to visit in most cases, though as with many rural churches, a donation box usually sits discreetly by the door.

If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Wardley Hill is closest at just 1.7 miles, or there's Dawn Chorus's glamping if you fancy something different - this makes a quiet morning or late afternoon walk. Pair it with a proper wander around Bungay itself, which has enough character to make a visit worthwhile without being packed with tourists.