Melton Vineyard

There's a bit of confusion in the records here - Melton Vineyard isn't actually a church, despite what the data suggests. It's a working vineyard on the outskirts of Melton Mowbray, the Leicestershire market town famous for its pork pies. The vineyard produces English wines from its own vines, and you can visit to see how they do it, taste the results, and pick up a bottle or two if something catches your fancy.

It's the sort of place that works well if you're staying at one of the caravan parks dotted around the area - The Grange or Eye Kettleby Lakes are both within a couple of miles - and fancy a gentle afternoon away from the campervan. English vineyard visits can be a bit hit-and-miss depending on what year the grapes had, and this one's no exception. Worth ringing ahead to check opening times and whether they're doing tastings, as these things aren't always guaranteed.

Families with older kids might enjoy it more than younger ones - there's not much hands-on activity beyond looking at the vines and sampling wine if you're old enough. Serious wine types will find it interesting from a terroir perspective; casual drinkers might just grab a bottle of the rosé and call it a day. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're chatty with the staff. If the weather's decent and you're already in Melton for the pies, it's worth the short detour. Just don't expect it to be the highlight of your park holiday.