Alice Nutter

Alice Nutter is a contemporary art gallery tucked away in Nelson, a former mill town in Lancashire that's quietly reinventing itself. The space focuses on experimental work and emerging artists, which means you're as likely to find video installations and provocative installations as you are traditional paintings. It's the kind of place where you either walk out buzzing with ideas or slightly baffled - sometimes both.

The gallery itself is refreshingly unpretentious. There's no gift shop lecturing you about the work, no audio guides telling you what to think. You just show up and engage with what's in front of you. Most visits run to about an hour, though if you're genuinely interested in the artist statements and concepts, you could easily spend longer. Free admission, which is always welcome when you're trying to fill a rainy afternoon.

It works best if you're already a bit into contemporary art or you're willing to have your assumptions challenged. Families with younger kids might find it a stretch unless they're already gallery-trained - it's not colourful or interactive in that sense. But if you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots like Higher Grange or Trawden Forest, it's well worth the short drive into Nelson for an hour of proper engagement with what's happening in smaller UK galleries right now.

The area around Nelson is genuinely interesting for walkers and history types too. Check opening hours before you go - galleries can be a bit cagey with their schedules.