Dover smART Project

Dover's art scene gets a proper lift from the smART Project, a gallery that punches above its weight for a port town. You'll find contemporary work that actually engages rather than just fills wall space - local and emerging artists, installations that make you think twice, the kind of stuff that reminds you why galleries matter.

It's worth a couple of hours if you're into actual art rather than the chocolate-box coastal clichés. The space itself feels unpretentious, which is refreshing. No velvet ropes or the smell of institutional anxiety.

If you're staying at Parkdean Resorts St Margaret's Bay or Hawthorn Farm Holiday Park - both within a couple of miles - this breaks up the park routine nicely on a rainy afternoon or when you've had enough of the beach. Kingsdown Camping and Varne Ridge are also close enough that you won't spend your whole day driving.

The admission situation and opening hours need checking ahead - gallery schedules can be erratic - but Dover itself is worth a proper explore anyway. The castle dominates, the white cliffs are genuinely something, and the harbour's got real character. The smART Project sits in the town centre and pairs well with a wander round the medieval streets.

Bring the kids if they're old enough to look without touching. Younger ones might lose interest quickly, but teenagers who aren't completely glued to their phones could find something to argue about, which counts as cultural engagement in my book.