Fisherton Mill Gallery | Cafe | Studios

The converted mill just outside Salisbury holds working artist studios alongside a gallery space, which means you're not just looking at finished work - you can watch potters, painters, and jewellers actually making the stuff. It's housed in an old watermill building with proper character, all exposed brick and timber, and there's a cafe that does decent coffee and cakes if you need a break between studios.

You'll want to allow a good hour or two here, longer if any of the resident artists catch your eye. The appeal is quite specific - this works brilliantly for anyone interested in craft and seeing how things are made, less so if you're after blockbuster contemporary art or sculpture parks. Families with older kids who can appreciate the creative process will get something from it; very small children might get bored quickly.

It's free to wander around the studios and gallery, though buying something from an artist is obviously encouraged. The cafe takes the pressure off too - you're not made to feel you have to purchase to justify being there. Location-wise, it slots neatly into a Salisbury-based holiday. If you're staying at Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Bake Farm, it's barely a handful of miles away, so worth pairing with a walk into town or a visit to the cathedral. The watermill setting also makes for decent photographs if you're that way inclined.