Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church

The stone facade of Saint John the Baptist catches you off-guard driving through the Melton Mowbray countryside - a proper Victorian Gothic church that commands the landscape in a way modern buildings rarely manage. Inside, the tall nave and stained glass windows create that hushed reverence you either find moving or mildly claustrophobic, depending on your tolerance for ecclesiastical solemnity.

It's a working parish church, so opening times depend on services and the vicar's schedule - worth ringing ahead rather than showing up expecting an open door. The architecture rewards a closer look if you're into Victorian craftsmanship: the stonework is solid, the detailing genuine rather than showy. You won't spend hours here, realistically. Twenty minutes to half an hour if you're actually interested in the interior, less if you're just after a quick peek.

This works best as part of a broader amble around Melton Mowbray rather than a standalone destination. The town's got proper character - it's the pork pie capital and worth exploring on foot. If you're camping at Eye Kettleby Lakes or The Grange, both just down the road, the church provides a reason to venture into the town centre rather than staying poolside all afternoon. Families with restless kids won't love it, but walkers and anyone interested in Victorian religious architecture will find it genuine and unpretentious. No great fanfare, no gift shop - just a functioning church doing what it's always done.