St.Swithuns Church, Long Bennington

The church sits right on the main road through Long Bennington, impossible to miss with its sturdy medieval tower rising above the village. St Swithun's has been here since the 12th century, and you can feel the weight of that history the moment you step inside - proper ancient, with a nave that's clearly seen several centuries of repairs and rebuilds.

What strikes you first is how light and airy it feels for such an old building. The tower's solid enough to suggest it's weathered plenty of storms, and the churchyard around it is the sort of place where you'll spot proper old gravestones mixed in with newer ones. Inside, there's decent medieval architecture if you know what you're looking for - the sort of thing that appeals to anyone with an interest in parish churches rather than the showier cathedral type.

This isn't a destination in itself, mind you. It's a twenty-minute stop at most, and honestly it works best as part of a broader potter around the village. The real value comes if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Witham Grange is barely two miles away, and Secret Garden just as close. Call in on your way to somewhere else in the area, spend ten minutes looking at the stonework, then crack on. It's free to visit and there's no faffing about with opening hours - just walk in during daylight. Worth a look if you're passing through Newark way, but don't plan a trip specifically for it.