Blue Boy

The Blue Boy sits in Exeter's city centre, and it's one of those galleries that catches you off guard. This isn't a massive, marble-floored institution - it's intimate, manageable, the sort of place where you can actually spend time with the work rather than shuffling through crowds. The collection centres on British art, with a real focus on contemporary pieces alongside some proper historical stuff. You'll find paintings, sculpture, installations - it varies depending on what's on when you visit.

It's the kind of spot that appeals to art types without being snobby about it. If you're staying at Devon Heaven Hideaways just outside town, it's worth the drive in for an afternoon. The gallery itself doesn't demand hours - a decent look around takes 90 minutes to two hours, which slots nicely into a wider Exeter wander. Hit the nearby cafes and riverside walks before or after.

The whole thing works best if you actually engage with what's on rather than rushing through. Admission details vary with exhibitions, so it's worth ringing ahead or checking their website before you go. Not a weather-dependent attraction, obviously, which makes it proper useful on those days when Devon's skies turn grey and the rain decides to stick around. Worth carving out time for if art galleries are your thing.