Fresh: Art Fairs

Fresh: Art Fairs is Cheltenham's answer to those who reckon the traditional gallery circuit needs shaking up. It's a contemporary art fair rather than a permanent museum space, so you'll need to time your visit right - these events come and go throughout the year, bringing together emerging artists, established galleries, and work that sits somewhere between the two. What you get is a chance to see new pieces before they end up in the major London fairs, often at a point when artists are still hungry and the work feels genuinely fresh rather than already over-explained.

The appeal spreads pretty wide. Art collectors obviously make the pilgrimage from across the region. But honestly, if you're spending time in Cheltenham anyway - and the town itself is worth a few days - it's a solid rainy afternoon activity. The Racecourse Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite sits just down the road, so you could base yourself there and explore the town's other galleries and independent shops in tandem. Families with older teens interested in contemporary work will find it engaging; younger children might struggle with the pace.

You'll want to check ahead for exact dates and whether there's an admission charge, as this varies by fair. Allow a couple of hours to do it properly without rushing. The real value comes if you're genuinely interested in the art scene rather than ticking off another tourist spot. Skip it if you're just after something to fill time - but if contemporary work speaks to you, it's worth the detour.