Brook Contemporary

Brook Contemporary sits just outside Exmouth and is worth a proper visit if you're into contemporary art without the stuffiness of a big-city gallery. The space itself is intimate - you won't spend three hours here, but that's rather the point. The work on rotation tends toward painting and sculpture with a regional focus, and there's a genuine attempt to champion artists who aren't household names.

It's the sort of place that appeals to adults who actually care about what they're looking at, rather than families with restless kids hoping for interactive installations. That said, if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Haven Devon Cliffs is barely two miles away - it makes for a decent rainy-afternoon option without any real commitment. Ladram Bay is also close if you're after a clifftop wander with a gallery stop.

The venue has a relaxed, almost domestic feel compared to the usual gallery rigmarole. You can usually pop in and out without ceremony, and local artists sometimes use it as a proper studio space, so you might catch someone working. I'd allow an hour maximum unless there's a specific show that's grabbed your attention beforehand. Best to check ahead what's on rather than turning up to find something that doesn't speak to you. It's free or cheap entry depending on the exhibition - ring ahead to confirm. For a seaside park holiday that needs a bit of cultural ballast, this does the job without any fuss.