Bluestone Art

Bluestone Art sits just outside Lincoln, a gallery that punches above its weight if you're after something beyond the usual tourist trail. The space showcases contemporary work - paintings, sculpture, occasionally installation pieces - from artists who've actually got something to say rather than just filling wall space.

It's the kind of place that rewards a proper look. You'll spend an hour here comfortably, maybe ninety minutes if you're the type to read every statement and stand about contemplating things. Solo visitors and serious art types will get the most from it; casual browsers risk feeling a bit lost if there's nothing immediately grabbing them.

The setup works brilliantly if you're based at Hartsholme Country Park campsite just down the road - close enough for an afternoon visit without eating into your day. South Cliff and Hanworth Country Park are also within spitting distance, so you could easily slot this in between walks around the parks themselves.

Lincoln's cathedral is the obvious draw in the area, but Bluestone offers something different - less about tick-box tourism and more about what's actually on the walls right now. Check ahead for current exhibitions before you drive over; the programme changes regularly and you want to catch something that speaks to you rather than arriving to find it mid-changeover. Free entry would be brilliant, but verify opening hours first - gallery hours can be a bit unpredictable outside the main season.