Glockenspiel

The Glockenspiel gallery sits in Carlisle, a proper working art space that punches above its weight for a market town. It's the sort of place you stumble into expecting five minutes and end up staying an hour, turning over whatever exhibition happens to be on at the time.

Inside you'll find contemporary work - painting, sculpture, installation pieces - rotating through regularly. The space itself is intimate without feeling cramped, white walls and decent lighting that actually lets you see what you're looking at. No pretension, just good curation and a genuine attempt to give local and regional artists a proper platform.

It works best for anyone with even a passing interest in visual art. You don't need to be a gallery regular to get something from it - the shows tend to be accessible without dumbing down. Worth an afternoon when you're already in Carlisle for the shops or the cathedral, though it's worth checking ahead for opening hours as they're not always predictable.

If you're based at Green Acres Caravan Park just outside town, it's a quick drive in and back. The same goes for Thornfield Camping Cabins if you're after something with more creature comforts. Neither park would be a hardship - both are well-reviewed and give you a proper base to explore Carlisle's quieter side. The gallery won't fill a whole day trip on its own, but it's the sort of detour that makes a holiday feel less touristy.