Blue Peace Gallery

Blue Peace Gallery sits in Plymouth and is the kind of independent art space that rewards a lazy afternoon when you've had enough of the seafront. It's a proper working gallery - you're walking into someone's creative project, not a corporate machine. The exhibitions rotate regularly, so what's on the walls changes throughout the year. We found it refreshingly unpretentious, with the sort of work that actually makes you want to linger rather than tick a box.

The space itself is intimate, the sort of place where you can hear your own footsteps and actually think about what you're looking at. Depending on what's showing when you visit, you might find contemporary paintings, installations, photography, or mixed media work. There's a real community feel to it - artists using the space, people popping in because they work nearby.

If you're staying at Dartmoor Domes and want a change of scenery from the moors, it's worth the short drive into Plymouth proper. The gallery works well as part of a wider morning in the city - pair it with a walk along the Hoe or a coffee stop rather than making it a destination in itself. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how many pieces are up. Free admission, which is always welcome.

It's best for adults and older teenagers with a genuine interest in contemporary art. Little ones will fidget. Check ahead on opening times - independent spaces like this sometimes close for exhibitions or events, and the website information isn't always bang up to date.