Against the stream

Against the Stream is a contemporary gallery just outside Ipswich that trades in actual art rather than the sort of thing you find in every high street cafe. It's a working space where artists exhibit and create, which means what's on the walls changes and the whole thing feels alive rather than curated to death.

The gallery itself is compact - you won't spend three hours here unless you're properly into it, but that's rather the point. The work tends toward the modern and experimental, which appeals to people who want something beyond landscape prints and local watercolours. Families with teenagers who aren't completely allergic to art might enjoy it; younger kids will probably get bored after twenty minutes.

Admission details are thin on the ground, so ring ahead or check their website before you visit. Given it's run by actual artists rather than a trust, hours can be a bit fluid.

If you're based at one of the nearby parks - Priory Park is closest at under three miles away, or The Lost Garden Retreat if you fancy something more rural - this works as a quick cultural stop between walking and pub lunches. It's the sort of place that breaks up a park holiday without demanding half a day of your time. Worth a look if you're in Ipswich anyway, less worth a special trip unless contemporary art is genuinely your thing.