Boy and Girl

The Boy and Girl gallery sits quietly in Buckinghamshire, just outside Milton Keynes - the sort of place you'd walk straight past if you didn't know what you were looking for. It's a contemporary art space that punches above its weight, showcasing work from emerging and established artists in a setting that feels genuinely thoughtful rather than pretentious.

What you get here depends on what's on during your visit - the programme rotates regularly, so it's worth checking ahead. The space itself is intimate, the kind of venue where you can spend forty minutes or two hours depending on how deep you want to go with the work. It's not a place for fidgety kids expecting interactive installations, though older teenagers interested in art will find it worthwhile.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - The Old Dairy Farm Camping is excellent if you can get a spot, and Gullivers Campsite keeps families entertained with its theme park attractions - the gallery makes for a civilised half-day break from the usual holiday activities. It's free or very cheap to get in, which helps.

The real question is whether you've got the patience for contemporary art while on a family holiday. Honestly? If you do, it's a proper breath of fresh air compared to the standard attractions around Milton Keynes. If you don't, don't force it. But if you're at least mildly curious about what's on, it's worth the detour.