St. Michael's Church, Kirby-le-Soken

The church sits quietly on the main road through Kirby-le-Soken, a village that barely announces itself as you pass through. St. Michael's is one of those proper medieval parish churches that rewards a quick stop if you're staying at one of the holiday parks near Walton on the Naze - Naze Marine or Valley Farm are just a couple of miles away.

It's a working church with genuine Saxon and Norman bones, which means you're looking at genuine age here, not a Victorian rebuild. The interior is straightforward - whitewashed walls, simple furnishings, the kind of place where you can actually think rather than being overwhelmed by decoration. The windows are decent, and there's enough medieval work to keep anyone interested in church architecture occupied for twenty minutes or so.

Access is usually free, though opening hours vary depending on the vicar's schedule, so ring ahead or check the church noticeboard. It won't take long - half an hour maximum, including time to read the wall plaques. Families with young kids might find it a bit quiet for lingering, but teenagers interested in medieval history or architecture will get something from it.

The real appeal is combining it with a walk around the village and a pint at a local pub afterwards. It's not a destination in itself, but if you're based at one of the caravan parks for a week on the Essex coast, it's well worth the short drive inland to see what proper village Essex looks like away from the seafront.