Dandelions

Dandelions is a gallery tucked away in Staffordshire that punches well above its weight. We're talking contemporary art in a proper working space - the kind of place where you can actually see artists getting on with their practice rather than everything locked behind velvet ropes. It's intimate and unpretentious, which makes for a refreshing change from the usual gallery circuit.

The exhibition space rotates regularly, so there's always something new if you're local or passing through. Work tends towards contemporary craft and fine art from both established and emerging names. Honestly, it's the sort of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick tick-box visit. You'll spend anything from 45 minutes to two hours depending on how deep you want to go with the work on display.

Stafford sits just down the road, so it's easy enough to combine this with lunch or a general mooch around town. If you're camping at Fledgling Farm nearby, it's worth the short drive over - beats sitting in a field watching clouds all afternoon. Art enthusiasts and makers will get the most from it, though the scale means it won't overwhelm younger visitors if they're dragged along.

Best bet is to ring ahead or check their social pages for what's on and whether they've any specific opening times, as independent galleries can be a bit fluid about hours.