Clarendon Fine Art Derby

The ground floor of Clarendon Fine Art in Derby is where you'll spend most of your time, moving between rooms of contemporary work from established and emerging artists. It's a proper working gallery rather than a museum - the paintings and sculptures actually sell, which means the collection shifts regularly. That's either brilliant or annoying depending on how you feel about revisiting.

You'll get the most out of this if you're genuinely interested in British contemporary art rather than looking for a quick cultural tick-box. Most pieces lean towards accessible modern work rather than the challenging conceptual stuff, so it's not intimidating. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, though you could breeze through in half that if you're not reading the artist statements.

The location in Derby keeps it quiet - you won't fight crowds here. Worth timing your visit around Hill Farm Camping & Caravan Park if you're based there for a longer Derbyshire trip; it's only four miles away. The gallery pairs well with a walk into Derby's town centre if you want to make an afternoon of it, though I'd ring ahead to check current opening hours as they do close between shows sometimes.

Free entry, which removes any pressure to justify your time spent. Go if you're in the area and the weather's grim. Don't plan a special trip around it.