Elf House

The Elf House sits quietly in Birchington, a gallery that catches you off guard if you're not looking for it. It's the sort of place that makes you stop and actually think about what art is doing in a seaside town, tucked away from the main drag.

Inside, you'll find contemporary work and installations that range from the genuinely clever to the occasionally baffling - which is rather the point, I suppose. The space itself is intimate; you're not going to spend three hours here, but forty minutes of actual attention will do it. It's free to wander in, which is decent of them, though a donation wouldn't go amiss.

This works best for people who like their art unpretentious and slightly experimental. If you're dragging reluctant teenagers around, they might surprise you. Young kids will lose interest fast - it's not interactive in that way. But if you're the sort who enjoys a proper gallery without the pomposity, it's worth the detour from your holiday base.

Birchington Vale Holiday Park is just under three miles away, making it easy to pop in for an hour when you fancy something different from beach time. The Foxhunter Park, further out, is also close enough for a morning visit before you head elsewhere. Time it for a quiet weekday morning if you can - the light's usually better, and you won't be dodging school groups.