Funky Pots

Drive past the industrial estates on the outskirts of Nottingham and you'll spot them: massive, colourful ceramic pots standing in a field like some kind of pottery rebellion. Funky Pots is exactly what it sounds - a working pottery studio where the artist creates oversized clay vessels, and locals have made it a proper talking point.

The appeal is straightforward. You get to see actual craftspeople at work if you time it right, and the finished pieces are genuinely striking - proper statement pieces if you've got the garden space and budget. Some are glazed in jewel tones, others left raw. It's the sort of place that makes you stop the car and think, "What the hell is that?"

It's not a day-out destination in itself. Give it twenty minutes, take some photos, chat to whoever's around if they're in the mood. Kids might find it interesting for five minutes, but there's no experience component - you're looking at finished work and a studio, not making pots yourself. History types will find nothing here. Gardeners and people who like unusual outdoor sculpture will get more from it.

Free to visit and look around, though obviously the pots themselves aren't cheap if you fancy taking one home. The real value is as a quick detour while based at one of the nearby glamping spots - Birdholme or Wolds Wine Estate are both top-rated and within five miles. Pop by Funky Pots on the way to Nottingham itself, or on a wander round the quieter edges of the county.