Elements Garden

A contemporary art gallery housed in a converted Essex building, Elements Garden does exactly what it says on the tin - marries indoor exhibitions with outdoor sculptural installations. The space feels properly ambitious for the region, rotating shows that lean towards abstract and installation work rather than safe figurative stuff.

You'll wander through gallery rooms, then spill out into grounds where larger pieces sit among the landscaping. It's a decent couple of hours if you're into that sort of thing, though it won't keep you all day. The outdoor element means you're not trapped indoors come rain - there's always something to look at between the trees.

Families with older kids who don't mind a bit of head-scratching will get more from it than young children after a quick dash. Serious art types will appreciate the curatorial direction, though it's refreshingly unpretentious rather than gallery-guide heavy.

Just outside Chelmsford, it works nicely as a morning or afternoon slot if you're based at The Courts Campsite or Hoe Mill Lock nearby. Neither venue is a long drive away, so you could easily combine it with walking or other Chelmsford-area attractions without it feeling forced. The setting's genuinely pleasant - less clinical than you'd expect from a contemporary gallery.