Joy of All Who Sorrow Church

The name alone stops you in your tracks - Joy of All Who Sorrow Church, sat just outside Bungay in Norfolk. It's a small parish church with a wonderfully earnest medieval spirit, the sort of place that feels genuinely lived-in rather than preserved like a museum piece.

What you're looking at is proper village church architecture, with that distinctive Norfolk flint construction that catches the light differently depending on the time of day. The interior is modest but full of character - old wooden pews, a decent font, the kind of details that remind you this isn't just a tourist stop but somewhere people have actually worshipped for centuries. The name itself suggests something about medieval theology and the comfort of faith, which is worth pondering while you're there.

This works best for walkers and church enthusiasts rather than families with restless kids - there's not a tremendous amount to occupy children for long. Allow twenty minutes to half an hour, longer if you're the type who reads every inscription and sits quietly for a bit.

The real draw is combining it with the surrounding Norfolk countryside and basing yourself at one of the nearby sites. Wardley Hill Campsite and Dawn Chorus Holidays' glamping setup are both within easy striking distance, or push a bit further to The Wildings Elms Meadow or Green Haven Camping. It's the sort of church visit that makes sense as part of a wider rural ramble - not a destination in itself, but absolutely worth the detour if you're already exploring the Waveney Valley.