Clarendon Fine Art Cirencester

You'll find Clarendon Fine Art tucked away in Cirencester, a proper independent gallery that takes its art seriously without the stuffiness you'd expect. Inside, there's a solid rotation of contemporary work - paintings, sculptures, prints - from both established and emerging artists. It's the kind of place where you can actually have a conversation with staff who know what they're talking about, not the glazed-over gallery assistants you encounter elsewhere.

The gallery works best for art enthusiasts and anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary practice. You won't spend hours here - reckon on thirty to forty-five minutes for a proper look round - but that's precisely the point. It's quality over quantity. The setting on one of Cirencester's quieter streets gives it an intimate feel, miles away from the museum crowds.

If you're staying at Hoburne Cotswold Holiday Park, just four and a half miles out, this makes an excellent wet-weather option or a cultural breather from park activities. Cirencester Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is practically on the doorstep at less than a mile away, so it's barely worth loading the car. The town itself has enough going on - decent high street, decent pubs - that you can easily combine a gallery visit with lunch or an afternoon wander.

Worths checking their current exhibition before you visit, as the programme changes regularly. Opening hours and admission fees aren't always obvious online, so a quick phone call saves disappointment.