Guildford House Gallery

Walk up the High Street in Guildford and you'll spot a handsome timber-framed Tudor house that's been doing cultural duty since 1660. Guildford House Gallery occupies this proper old building, and that alone is worth the visit - the creaking floors and uneven ceilings tell you immediately this isn't some sterile modern box.

Inside, you'll find rotating contemporary art exhibitions across three floors. It's intimate rather than exhausting, which means you can actually look at things without your feet giving up. The ground floor has always got something on, usually a mix of local and touring shows. Upstairs rooms are smaller and feel more personal. On a Tuesday afternoon, you might find yourself alone with whatever's hanging - that's rare in galleries.

This works best if you care about art or want to introduce older children to galleries without the intimidation factor of somewhere massive. It's free, which removes the guilty feeling of dragging everyone round only to have them bored within twenty minutes. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if the exhibition grabs you.

Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4:30pm. If you're camping at Chantry Wood or any of the parks within a few miles of Guildford - and there's a decent cluster of them - this makes an easy rainy-day escape or a pleasant morning before heading to Box Hill or the Wey South Path. Pair it with lunch on the High Street and you've got a proper day sorted.