Circle Dance

Circle Dance is a gallery tucked away in Northamptonshire that punches well above its weight for contemporary art. The space itself is intimate - the kind of place where you can actually breathe around the work rather than shoulder your way through crowds. What you'll find depends on the current exhibition, but the focus is on modern and contemporary pieces that make you think rather than just look pretty on the wall.

It's the sort of spot that appeals to serious art types more than casual browsers, though anyone with genuine curiosity will get something from it. You won't need more than an hour here unless you're the type to read every caption and sit with each piece for a while. Given the lack of obvious signage and limited public information, it's worth ringing ahead to confirm opening hours and whether there's an admission fee - these independent galleries can be a bit variable about that.

If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Cosgrove Park is the closest at under five miles away, or The Old Dairy Farm if you want the highest-rated option - it makes for a decent rainy-day excursion or a break from the usual holiday routine. Milton Keynes is just down the road if you need bigger-name attractions, but Circle Dance offers something altogether more low-key and genuine. Worth the detour if art matters to you.