2be Studio & Gallery

Contemporary art in Stratford-upon-Avon proper - 2be Studio & Gallery sits just outside the town's well-trodden Shakespeare circuit, which means you'll actually have space to breathe while looking at work. It's a working studio and exhibition space combined, so you're getting the real thing: artists in situ, not some sanitised retail operation.

The gallery focuses on modern and contemporary pieces, rotating shows regularly. What you see depends entirely on when you visit, which keeps things fresh if you're camping locally for more than a few days. The studio aspect means you might catch artists at work, which beats staring at empty walls in a formal gallery any day.

This works best for art-minded types rather than kids looking for interactive fun - it's proper viewing space, not a plaground. Most people allow 45 minutes to an hour here. If you're based at one of the caravan parks nearby - Rayford's less than a mile away, Stratford Parks barely over it - you can slip in as a half-day activity between river walks and the inevitable tourist traps.

Admission details aren't publicly listed online, so ring ahead before you go. It's worth checking opening hours too; smaller galleries keep odd days. As a break from the relentless Shakespearean tourism that dominates Stratford, this hits the mark. You'll leave having seen something real rather than another shop selling Anne Hathaway merchandise.