Our Lady of Good Counsel

The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel sits just outside Canterbury, a Victorian-era Catholic church that catches most visitors by surprise - it's not the medieval cathedral everyone comes for, but rather a proper working parish church with genuine character. Built in the 19th century, it's a solid brick affair with the kind of honest craftmanship you don't see much anymore, and the interior has that calm, lived-in feel of a place where people actually come to pray rather than just photograph.

It's worth a stop if you're into ecclesiastical architecture or doing a thorough sweep of Canterbury's religious sites - you'll get a real sense of how the Catholic community rebuilt itself in post-Reformation England. The church isn't trying to be spectacular, which is rather refreshing. Most people spend twenty minutes inside, maybe half an hour if they're thorough.

Admission should be free, as with most working churches, though it's worth checking locally before you go - opening hours aren't widely published. If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - New Beach or Daleacres are both within four miles - it's an easy afternoon diversion on your way into Canterbury proper. Port Lympne Safari Park is only four miles away if you've got kids getting restless, so you could sensibly combine a church visit with something more obviously entertaining. Don't make a special trip from further afield, but if you're already in the area exploring Kent's religious heritage, it deserves an hour of your time.