St Peter’s Church, Thurgarton

The church sits quietly in Thurgarton, a few miles northeast of Nottingham, looking rather more impressive than you'd expect for a village spot. It's a proper medieval structure - all Norman arches and solid stone work that tells you this place has been standing for centuries. Inside, there's genuine character: decent stained glass, some interesting monuments, and that particular smell of old wood and hymn books that churches always seem to have.

This is one for the history-minded rather than a dramatic outing. You won't need more than thirty minutes here unless you're really into ecclesiastical architecture, in which case the Norman details are genuinely worth a closer look. The churchyard's pleasant enough for a wander after, particularly if the weather's decent.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Peacock Lake Glamping or Gunthorpe Camping are both within a couple of miles - it's easily combined with a village walk or a trip into Nottingham proper. Not a destination in itself, but a good fifteen-minute diversion if you're exploring the area. Check ahead for opening times; like many country churches, it's not always open during the day.