St. Paul's Church

St. Paul's Church sits in Carlisle, a solid piece of English religious architecture that rewards a proper look if you're passing through the city. It's a working parish church, not a museum piece, which means you'll need to catch it when services aren't on if you want a peaceful wander round. The interior has that particular quality of northern English churches - honest rather than showy, with decent stained glass and the kind of craftsmanship you notice when you actually stop to look.

This works best for architecture enthusiasts or anyone doing a walking tour of Carlisle itself. You won't spend hours here, but it's the sort of place that makes sense as a break between the cathedral and the castle. It's free to look round, assuming the doors are open - ring ahead to Carlisle tourist information if you're making a special trip.

If you're based at one of the caravan parks dotted round the wider area - Hill of Oaks or Park Cliffe over towards Windermere, for instance - St. Paul's fits into a day exploring Carlisle proper before heading back to the lakes. The drive in from the parks takes 20 minutes or so depending which one you're at. Worth the detour if you're interested in Victorian ecclesiastical design, less so if you've got restless kids and limited time in the city.