Clarendon Fine Art Stow on the Wold

Walking into Clarendon Fine Art on Stow-on-the-Wold's high street feels like stepping into someone's rather well-curated living room - the sort of place where the owner actually cares what hangs on the walls. This is contemporary art with a proper Cotswolds sensibility: nothing trying too hard, nothing compromising on quality.

The gallery focuses on painting and sculpture from established and emerging artists, and the work rotates regularly enough that repeat visits aren't pointless. You'll find everything from abstract pieces to figurative work, though nothing so challenging it'll make you uncomfortable nursing a coffee. Serious collectors stop in, but so do casual browsers who've ducked out of the tourist crush on the main shopping drag.

It's worth an hour if you're into art, though you won't need much longer. Even if you're not particularly bothered about contemporary work, popping in costs nothing and breaks up the day between lunch and a walk. The staff know their stuff and won't pounce on you aggressively - a rarity in Cotswolds galleries.

Stow itself is handsome but rammed with day-trippers, especially weekends. You're better off staying put at one of the nearby glamping spots - Cotswolds Meadow or Moreton-in-Marsh Experience Freedom are both within easy reach - then wandering into the town with considerably less panic. Early morning visits to the gallery work well before the crowds arrive. Pairs and solo travellers get more from it than families with restless children.