Haworth Art Gallery

The Haworth Art Gallery sits in Accrington, just outside Bury, and it's the sort of place you walk into expecting nothing much and leave genuinely surprised. The building itself - a Victorian mansion - is worth the visit alone, all high ceilings and original fireplaces that remind you how seriously people took their homes back then.

Inside, the collection focuses heavily on British art from the 19th and 20th centuries, with a particularly strong showing of Impressionist work. There's glass too - proper collections of Tiffany glass that catch the light in ways that photographs simply don't capture. You'll spend a solid two to three hours here if you're the type to actually read the wall notes, less if you're just browsing.

It's genuinely free to get in, which feels almost criminal given the quality on display. The gallery attracts serious art types but doesn't alienate casual visitors - families with older kids do fine here, though under-tens might find it a slog unless they're particularly patient.

When you're staying at Rossendale Holiday Cottages or Dearden Wood, both within five miles, this makes a cracking half-day outing that breaks up the usual park routine. Go on a weekday if you can - weekends bring school groups and the place gets properly busy. The town of Accrington itself is fairly no-nonsense, but the gallery punches well above its weight. Worth the detour.