Clarendon Fine Art Ringwood

The gallery sits right in Ringwood's town centre, a proper working space where local and contemporary artists actually sell their work rather than just display it behind velvet ropes. You'll find paintings, prints, sculptures and jewellery - the sort of place where you can genuinely have a conversation with the artist if you're lucky enough to catch them in.

It's worth a browse if you're spending time in Ringwood anyway, though don't expect to lose two hours here. An honest assessment: it's a solid hour's visit at most, longer if something really catches your eye. The beauty of it is there's no pressure - no admission fee nonsense, so you can pop in and out as you please.

Families with older kids will get more from it than those with toddlers. It's not a hands-on sort of place, more for people who actually like looking at art. If you're staying at one of the nearby glamping spots - Fernwood is barely a mile away - it's worth knowing about for a rainy afternoon or when you fancy something different from the forest walks.

Ringwood itself is pleasant enough, with decent pubs and cafes, and you're well positioned for exploring the New Forest proper. The gallery works best as part of a broader afternoon rather than a destination in itself. Ring ahead before you visit if you want to check current opening times - that's always worth doing with independent galleries.