Dragonfly

You'll find Dragonfly tucked away in Staffordshire, a contemporary gallery that punches well above its weight for a region that doesn't shout about its art scene. It's a working studio and exhibition space rolled into one - the kind of place where you can actually watch artists in action rather than just gawp at finished pieces behind velvet ropes.

The gallery focuses on contemporary work, and there's a real sense that the people running it actually care about what hangs on the walls. You're looking at paintings, sculpture, and mixed media from artists who aren't household names but should be. The space itself is intimate without feeling cramped, which means you can spend a proper amount of time with individual pieces without feeling rushed.

Historically minded visitors might find it less vital than Burton-on-Trent's industrial heritage spots, but if you're the type who gets genuinely excited by contemporary practice and artist process, you'll get something real from it. Families with older kids interested in art will do fine here - it won't take hours, but an hour is time well spent.

Since details on opening hours and admission aren't readily available, ring ahead before making the trip. It's well placed for combining with Peake's Retreats just five miles away, making it an easy afternoon detour during a park-based holiday. Worth the diversion if contemporary art is your thing, but don't expect crowds or fanfare.