Eden Valley Artistic Network

The Eden Valley Artistic Network operates as a working gallery and artist collective just outside Penrith, giving you a genuine look at what local creatives are actually making rather than the polished museum experience. You'll find paintings, sculpture, printwork and the occasional installation - the sort of place where you might bump into someone in the studio mid-project.

It's worth a stop if you're into contemporary art and want to support local makers, though I'd manage expectations. This isn't a major gallery with blockbuster exhibitions. What appeals here is the intimacy of it - talking directly to artists about their work, seeing how they use the Cumbrian landscape for inspiration. That said, you won't spend hours browsing. Budget 45 minutes to an hour, longer if you find yourself chatting.

Families with older children who can appreciate art beyond the interactive stuff will get something from it. Younger kids might lose interest quickly. History buffs and walkers passing through the Eden Valley should check opening times before the journey - details are thin on the ground online, so a quick phone call to Penrith's tourist office would save a wasted trip.

If you're staying at Lowther Holiday Park or Crossfells Campsite, both just down the road, this makes a decent wet-weather afternoon paired with a walk along the Eden riverbank. Admission details aren't readily available, but most artist-run spaces charge nothing or ask for a modest donation.