St Mary's Parish Church

The church sits quietly on the edge of Walton on the Naze, one of those solid Essex parish churches that most visitors drive straight past without a second glance. That would be a mistake. St Mary's has proper bones - medieval stonework, a decent bell tower, and the kind of peaceful interior that feels miles away from the holiday park chaos just down the road.

Inside, the light comes through in soft angles. There's decent stained glass if you're into that sort of thing, and the usual accumulation of brasses and memorials that tell you something about who actually lived here over the centuries. It's not flashy. It won't take you hours. But if you're staying at one of the nearby Parkdean sites - Naze Marine or Valley Farm are closest - and you want twenty minutes of actual quiet, this is it.

Best visited midweek when the place is genuinely empty. Summer weekends get busier, though nowhere near crowded. Families with young kids might find it a bit dull unless they're seriously into spotting medieval carvings, but anyone on a walking holiday along this stretch of coast should pop in. The churchyard's pleasant enough for a wander too.

Access appears free - no signs saying otherwise - and there's no formal opening hours posted, which means you'll need to check locally. Ring ahead or ask at your holiday park. It's a ten-minute walk from central Walton if you're staying at the seaside, less from the holiday parks inland.