Green Space

Plymouth's contemporary art scene centres on this striking gallery space, tucked into the city's cultural quarter. Walk in expecting white walls and installations; leave having actually engaged with work that makes you think. The space itself is deliberately unfussy - the architecture doesn't overshadow what's on display, which is exactly how it should be.

You'll find rotating exhibitions covering everything from experimental photography to sculpture. There's a proper mix: emerging Devon artists alongside pieces from further afield. Staff know their stuff and won't bore you with jargon if you don't want it. The place works best if you give it an hour at a leisurely pace rather than rushing through in twenty minutes.

Not one for young children hunting for interactive buttons, but teenagers interested in art or art students will find it worthwhile. Adults after a quieter cultural stop during a Devon break get proper value here. It's free entry - a genuine bonus when you're weighing up things to do.

If you're staying out at Dartmoor Domes, this makes an easy rainy-day option when the moor feels a bit bleak. Plymouth itself is only five miles from the park, so popping into the gallery breaks up a day between walks nicely. The city's worth a couple of hours anyway for the Hoe and the waterfront. Don't expect the scale of a major metropolitan gallery, but that's rather the point - this is exactly what a regional art space should be.