Clarendon Fine Art Ilkley

The gallery sits right in the heart of Ilkley, a proper market town on the edge of the Wharfe Valley. Clarendon Fine Art is the sort of place you stumble into while wandering the high street, drawn in by whatever's in the window. Inside, you'll find contemporary paintings, prints, and sculpture - the stock changes regularly, so there's a genuine reason to visit more than once.

It's worth an hour of your time if you're into modern art without the pretension. The space itself is intimate rather than grand, which means you won't feel rushed, and the staff actually seem to know what they're talking about. That said, if you're after big-name exhibitions or installation work, you'll need to manage expectations.

Families with older kids might enjoy it; young children will get bored quickly. Serious collectors and art students passing through Ilkley should definitely call in. The gallery sits within walking distance of the moors and Ilkley's riverside walks, so slot it into a morning before heading out onto the peaks - there's enough going on in the town to justify a weekend stay if you're based at somewhere like Moor Valley Country Park or Olicana Park, both just a few miles out.

Admission details aren't readily available online, so ring ahead or just turn up and see. It's the kind of gallery that feels part of the town's cultural fabric rather than a tourist trap, which is exactly what Ilkley needs.