Castle Fine Art, Bath

Castle Fine Art sits right in Bath's city centre, and it's the sort of gallery that rewards a casual wander even if you're not planning to spend hours there. The space focuses on contemporary and traditional art - paintings, sculptures, prints - with a rotating selection that keeps things fresh across visits. What you get depends entirely on what's hanging when you visit, but the gallery staff know their stuff and won't hound you if you're just browsing.

It works best for art enthusiasts who want something beyond the usual tourist trail, though anyone with even a passing interest in painting will find something worth stopping for. Parents with bored teenagers might get twenty minutes out of it before the restlessness sets in, so don't expect it to be an all-afternoon event. The real appeal is that it's free to look around and no pressure to buy - you can dip in between seeing the Roman Baths or wandering down Pulteney Street.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Bath Mill Lodge is practically on your doorstep at just over two miles out - this works as a rainy afternoon option or a break from the crowds. CAMPWELL FARM sits a bit further afield but is worth the drive if you're basing yourself there. The city's compact enough that you'll likely pass Castle Fine Art anyway while exploring Bath proper, so treat it as a bonus rather than a destination in itself.