Arundel Contemporary | Independent Art Gallery.

Arundel Contemporary sits right in the heart of Arundel town, a proper independent gallery that punches well above its weight. You're looking at contemporary work - paintings, sculpture, installations - rotating shows that actually make you think rather than just nod politely and move on.

The space itself is intimate. No corporate sprawl, no gift shop trying to flog you a £40 tote bag. Just genuine artists' work and staff who actually know what they're talking about. The quality swings with each exhibition, which is honest - sometimes you'll walk in and think "why didn't I come sooner", other times you might give it twenty minutes and head for a coffee instead.

It's worth a stop if you're passing through Arundel anyway, especially on a wet afternoon or when the castle crowds are doing your head in. Art types will get the most from it, but anyone after a break from the tourist trail will appreciate the lack of pretence. Allow an hour, though you could easily do it in thirty.

If you're based at South Downs Caravan Park - which is just a tenth of a mile away - pop in on your second or third day when you've already done the castle and the riverside walks. It slots nicely into a South Downs holiday without dominating your itinerary. Just check ahead for opening times and current shows, as independent galleries can be a bit fluid with their schedules.