Air

The converted barn just outside Swindon houses a contemporary art space that punches well above its weight. Air is small - you can cover it in forty minutes if you're moving briskly - but the work on display tends to be worth lingering over. It's the sort of place where you actually read the artist statements rather than just glancing at the frames.

The gallery focuses on emerging and mid-career artists, with exhibitions rotating regularly. Nothing flashy or populist. If you're after challenging work rather than safe watercolours of the Wiltshire countryside, this is your stop. The setting itself - all exposed beams and white walls - works well without trying too hard.

You'll need to check their website for current hours and admission fees before you go, as these vary with exhibitions. Worth the small detour from Swindon if you're in the area for a few days. If you're staying at Nordic Glamping at Botswicky, just five miles or so away, Air makes a good cultural half-hour without eating into proper walking time. Pair it with a mooch around Swindon's Magic Roundabout and the STEAM railway museum if you've got kids in tow - though honestly, they might find the gallery itself a bit slow.

Not life-changing. But proper galleries outside major cities are increasingly rare, so this one deserves the footfall.