EDAN Gallery

The EDAN Gallery sits in Peterlee, a town that doesn't exactly shout 'cultural destination' from the rooftops - which is precisely why finding proper contemporary art here feels like a small discovery. It's a working gallery space that takes itself seriously without the pretension you'd get in Newcastle or Durham city. The kind of place where you might stumble in on an afternoon and find yourself genuinely engaged with what's on the walls.

You'll see rotating exhibitions of contemporary work - painting, sculpture, installations, the lot. It's not massive, which means you can take it in properly in under an hour without the fatigue that comes with traipsing through some vast museum. The space feels intimate, and the staff actually talk to you about the pieces rather than just leaving you to it.

This works best if you're the sort who enjoys artist talks or wants to support independent gallery spaces. If you're after big-name names, you won't find them here. If you're after something real and local to the North East art scene, it's worth your time.

The Barn at Easington holiday park sits just 2.4 miles away, making EDAN a sensible afternoon stop if you're staying in that area. Pair it with a walk round Peterlee town centre - it's got that particular charm of post-war planning - and you've got a decent cultural half-day without driving far. Open most days, though it's worth checking ahead as gallery hours can be flexible.