Sts Peter & Paul's Church

The twin towers of Sts Peter & Paul's rise above Wincanton's high street like something from a postcard nobody quite believes exists anymore. Walk inside and you're confronted with proper medieval Somerset - high stone walls, a roof that's survived centuries of English damp, and the kind of quiet that makes you actually think.

It's a working parish church, not a museum piece, which means opening times depend on what's on and who's about. The interior rewards a proper look: the architecture tells you everything about how people built things to last back then, and the craftsmanship in the stonework genuinely impresses. You're not going to need more than thirty minutes here unless you're the type to sit in pews reading every memorial plaque.

Families with young kids might find it a bit solemn - there's nothing interactive, no gift shop theatrics. But if you're walking through Wincanton anyway, it costs nothing to pop in and it's the kind of place that stays with you. For history types or anyone interested in how English parish churches actually function, it's well worth the stop.

If you're camping nearby - Sunnyhill Campsite is just a mile and a half away - this makes an easy morning wander before heading out to explore the wider Somerset countryside. The church itself is free to visit, though a donation box sits quietly by the door. Best to just turn up and try the door; the town's small enough that someone local will point you in the right direction if it's locked.