National Spirituslist Church

The National Spiritualist Church in Northampton is an unusual stop if you're the type who gets curious about Britain's stranger religious movements. Built in the late 19th century when spiritualism was having a genuine moment among the middle classes, it's a working church that still hosts services and the occasional visitor keen to understand this particular slice of Victorian Britain.

What you're looking at is a modest but atmospheric building that served a congregation convinced they could commune with the dead through séances and mediums. The interior has that particular quality of places dedicated to unpopular beliefs - earnest, a touch austere, and somehow rather moving. History buffs will find it worth an hour, though it's not a major architectural showstopper.

You'll want to call ahead before visiting, as opening hours aren't reliably advertised and you might catch locked doors otherwise. Admission details are similarly vague, though spiritualist churches typically welcome genuine visitors for a modest donation or free entry.

If you're staying at Billing Aquadrome or one of the other parks scattered around Northampton - Riverview Park or Blisworth Park are within easy reach - this makes an offbeat afternoon detour. It pairs well with Northampton's other architectural quirks, though I wouldn't build a whole holiday around it. Better suited to walkers and history types with a taste for the eccentric than families after mainstream attractions.