Gallery 26

Gallery 26 sits right in Keswick's town centre, a proper little contemporary art space that punches above its weight for a Lake District market town. Inside you'll find rotating exhibitions - the sort of work you'd expect in a city gallery, but without the pretension or the queues. It's the kind of place locals actually use rather than something tourists tick off a list.

The gallery itself is intimate. You're not wandering round for hours - most people spend 30 to 45 minutes looking at the current show, which suits the scale of the space perfectly. They take their programme seriously too, with a decent mix of painting, photography, sculpture and occasionally installation work. Staff know what they're talking about and won't bore you with waffle.

Families with older kids who can look without touching will get something from it. Younger ones might lose interest quickly, to be honest. It works best if you're already in Keswick doing the high street - pop in between coffee and lunch rather than making a special trip. The real draw is how it reflects what's happening in the wider Lake District art scene, away from the chocolate box expectations.

If you're camping at Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club or Castlerigg Hall just down the road, this slots perfectly into a rainy afternoon. Pair it with a walk around Derwent Water afterwards and you've got a balanced day. Check ahead for opening hours and admission fees before you visit - they're not always predictable.