Sacred Heart Catholic Church

The red brick Victorian structure stands out against Blackpool's seafront chaos, a proper counterpoint to the tower and the arcade madness. Sacred Heart Catholic Church is exactly what it says on the tin - a working parish church with enough architectural presence to warrant a look if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Newton Hall or Haven Marton Mere.

You're looking at late 19th century Gothic Revival, all pointed arches and solid Lancashire craftsmanship. The interior rewards a quiet moment if you catch the doors open - decent stained glass, the usual hymn books stacked on pews, that particular smell of old stone and beeswax that all churches seem to share. It's not a tourist draw in the same league as the Pleasure Beach, but it's the kind of place history types will appreciate, especially if you're interested in how industrial-era communities built their institutions.

This won't eat your afternoon. Ten minutes inside, five more if you're genuinely interested in the brickwork. It works best as a breather between park visits - if you're based at one of the holiday parks dotted around Blackpool and Southport, the church is walkable distance from Newton Hall or Southport Caravan and Motorhome Club. Free entry, obviously, as with most working churches, though cash for the donation box is customary.

Worth the detour? Not especially if you're after beachside thrills. But if you're the type who finds Victorian church architecture genuinely interesting and you've got half an hour to kill between activities, you could do worse.