Helmet

York's contemporary art scene isn't what most visitors expect from a Georgian city, but Helmet proves there's serious creative ambition happening here. This is a working gallery space - not some stuffy museum piece - where you'll find actual artists exhibiting their work rather than the usual heritage circuit fare.

What you get is a proper intimate viewing experience. The work rotates, so there's no guarantee what you'll find on any given visit, but that's rather the point. It's the sort of place that rewards a quiet hour of poking around, reading artist statements, and occasionally having your head turned by something genuinely compelling. Don't expect blockbuster exhibitions or crowds.

This works best for anyone who actually cares about contemporary work - artists, designers, serious art types - rather than families looking for a rainy afternoon fix. Twenty minutes to half an hour is usually enough unless you're particularly taken with what's on.

If you're basing yourselves at one of the nearby parks - Nurseries Caravan Park is only 2.8 miles out - Helmet slots nicely into a York day before you head back to the caravan for the evening. It's free to wander past, though whether admission is charged depends on what's showing. Worth phoning ahead to check what's on and opening times before you visit. York's got plenty of attractions, but this one actually has something to say, which counts for something.