Epidauros II

You'll find Epidauros II tucked away in St Ives, and it's the sort of place that rewards a bit of curiosity. It's a gallery space - the kind that takes its art seriously without the stuffiness you might expect from somewhere in a proper seaside town. The work on display shifts, so what you see depends entirely on when you visit, but there's a real commitment here to showing contemporary pieces that actually make you think rather than just look pleasant on the wall.

The gallery works best for art enthusiasts and anyone tired of the usual tourist tat. Families with younger kids might find it a quick visit - you're not talking about a full morning's entertainment here - but teenagers or anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary work will get proper value from spending an hour or so browsing. It's also the kind of place that often has something interesting happening if you check ahead.

Since opening hours and admission details aren't widely publicised, ring ahead before making the trip from one of the nearby parks like Polmanter Touring Park just over a mile away. St Ives itself is absolutely rammed with galleries if you've got an afternoon to kill, so Epidauros II fits neatly into a broader art trail rather than being a standalone reason to visit. Given the town's established reputation for serious creative work, it slots in well with a holiday that's about more than just beaches and fish and chips. Well worth tracking down if art matters to you.