Art Galleries Direct

Art Galleries Direct sits in New Milton, a short drive from the cluster of holiday parks around Bashley and the New Forest fringes. It's a working gallery space rather than a grand museum - the kind of place where you can actually talk to artists about their pieces, which beats queuing behind school groups any day.

You'll find contemporary art across multiple mediums: paintings, sculpture, sometimes ceramics or printwork depending on what's on. The space itself is modest but well-curated, and there's something refreshing about galleries that don't take themselves too seriously. Staff know their stuff without being precious about it.

It works best for art enthusiasts and anyone staying at Hoburne Bashley or Shorefield who wants a couple of hours away from the caravan. Families with teenagers interested in visual arts will find it more rewarding than younger children would - there's no hands-on activity, so under-tens may get restless quickly.

The practical side: you'll want to ring ahead or check their website for current opening hours and whether there's an admission charge, as these vary. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, longer if something really grabs you. It's worth combining with a New Milton town walk or a proper ramble through the nearby New Forest, rather than treating it as a standalone trip. The location makes it a handy rainy-day option when the weather turns on you - and in Hampshire, that happens regularly.