Beaux Arts Bath

The Beaux Arts Bath gallery sits right in the heart of Bath itself, and it's one of those places that rewards a proper wander through its rooms. You're looking at contemporary art and design housed in a space that takes itself seriously but doesn't make you feel stupid for not having studied art history. The actual experience varies depending on what's on - sometimes it's installations that genuinely stop you in your tracks, other times it's the sort of thing you'll politely nod at before heading for a coffee.

For art enthusiasts and anyone with a genuine interest in what's happening in contemporary practice, this is absolutely worth an hour or two. If your lot are expecting bright colours and interactive bits, fair warning - this is proper gallery work, not a play space. That said, the setting in Bath itself makes it feel less like a pilgrimage to culture and more like a natural part of a day's wandering around one of England's finest Georgian cities.

You'll want to check ahead for current exhibitions and whether there's an admission charge on the day you're visiting. Bath Mill Lodge Retreat, just 2.2 miles away, gives you a proper base if you're making a longer break of it in the area. Campwell Farm offers five-star camping if you're after something with a bit more character, and from either spot you're close enough to drop into the gallery between visits to Bath's Roman Baths and Abbey.