Beverley Minster

One of the finest Gothic churches in Europe, and often called the most beautiful church in England that isn't a cathedral. Built over two centuries from 1220, it has twin west towers, a superb carved stone Percy tomb, a Saxon 'frith stool' sanctuary chair and hundreds of medieval carvings, including many musicians playing instruments. Free roof tours sometimes let you see the medieval treadwheel crane.

Beverley is a small, unspoilt market town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, with traditional pubs, a racecourse and a weekly market. It's 15 minutes by train from Hull, and handy for York and the Yorkshire coast.