Ceramic Shack

The Ceramic Shack near Horsham is where you go if you actually want to get your hands dirty - literally. This working arts centre focuses on pottery and ceramics, giving visitors a proper hands-on experience rather than just standing behind velvet ropes. You can watch potters at work, try your hand at the wheel yourself, or simply browse finished pieces that run from functional earthenware to more experimental work.

It's brilliant for families with kids old enough to concentrate - under-fives might lose interest quickly, but anyone seven upwards will get something from it. Adults who've ever fancied pottery will find it worth a solid hour or two, especially if they take a workshop. The whole vibe is refreshingly low-key, without the overcrowded gallery feel you get in bigger towns.

If you're based at one of the nearby campsites - Raylands Country Park or Sands Farm are both close by - it makes an excellent half-day outing. Horsham itself is only a few miles away if you need lunch or supplies, and the Sussex countryside around here is pleasant for a walk once you've finished. You're in decent proximity to Sumners Ponds Fishery if you want to string together a weekend combining camping, crafts and countryside. Worth ringing ahead to check current opening hours and whether sessions need booking, as smaller arts centres often operate on reduced schedules outside peak season.