Gallery Nine

Gallery Nine sits in Bath, a town that hardly needs introduction but deserves more than just the Roman Baths and Jane Austen houses. This is a contemporary art space - small, focused, the kind of place you'll either absolutely rate or walk straight past depending on what's on. No grand neoclassical frontage, no fuss. Just actual art.

The gallery does what independent spaces do best: takes chances. You get work from established names and emerging artists, rotating shows that shift the mood of the place every few months. It's the sort of spot where you might stumble on something genuinely brilliant or leave thinking that particular installation wasn't for you. Both reactions are fine.

Arts enthusiasts and anyone keen on contemporary work will find it worth an hour, especially if you're basing yourself at Bath Mill Lodge Retreat nearby - that's only a couple of miles away and worth a look itself if you want proper accommodation rather than a caravan park. CAMPWELL FARM's a bit further out, but the location means Gallery Nine slots neatly into a Bath culture run alongside the better-known attractions.

The practical side: opening hours and admission aren't confirmed here, so ring ahead or check what's showing before you go. Bath's compact enough that you can easily combine this with the Abbey, the Pump Room, a walk along the river. Gallery Nine won't take your whole afternoon, but it might just be the bit that sticks with you after you've left.