Christie

The Christie gallery in Nottingham is a surprisingly engaging space if you're willing to venture off the main tourist drag. It's a working art gallery that takes itself seriously without the stuffiness you might expect - the kind of place where you can actually have a conversation with whoever's manning the desk about what's on the walls.

Inside, you'll find rotating contemporary exhibitions featuring local and regional artists, alongside craft work and occasional sculpture. It's not vast - you can cover everything in 45 minutes if you're moving at pace, or linger for a couple of hours if something grabs you. The gallery feels genuinely invested in what it shows rather than just filling wall space.

This works best for art-minded visitors and anyone wanting a quieter alternative to Nottingham's bigger museums. Kids might find it a bit of a slog unless they're already into contemporary work, but teenagers with an eye for design could spark off the exhibitions.

If you're staying at Shelford Nurseries Caravan Park just down the road, it's easily worth a morning visit before heading elsewhere in Nottinghamshire. The gallery sits reasonably central to Nottingham itself, so you can couple it with a wander round the city centre or head straight back to the park for lunch. Admission is typically free, though do check ahead as exhibition details and opening hours can shift seasonally.