St Richard of Chichester Church, Chichester

The cathedral city of Chichester is built around this medieval church, dedicated to a saint who actually lived here and did rather impressive things in the 13th century. St Richard was the bishop, known for being genuinely kind to poor people - unusual for the period - and the church itself carries that sense of approachable spirituality rather than cold grandeur.

Inside, you'll find the sort of architecture that grows on you: soaring stone work, decent stained glass, and the kind of quiet that makes you want to sit down for longer than you'd planned. The tomb is here somewhere, along with various bits of medieval carving that caught my eye. It's free to wander in during daylight hours, and you could spend anywhere from fifteen minutes to an hour depending on whether you're the type to read every brass plaque.

This works best if you're already in Chichester exploring the city itself - the church is right in the heart of things, not a special journey. History buffs and anyone interested in medieval Christianity will get proper value from it. Families with restless children might find twenty minutes is their limit.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby parks - Chichester Lakeside is just over a mile away, or Haven Church Farm at 4.5 miles offers more space - the cathedral and this church are worth an afternoon wandering the city center. Park the car, grab a coffee, and let Chichester work its quiet charm on you.