Highway Gallery

The Highway Gallery sits just outside Worcester and does exactly what it says on the tin - it's a working space for artists and makers rather than a stuffy traditional gallery. You'll find contemporary work in various media, usually with several artists exhibiting at once, which means the collection rotates and feels genuinely fresh each visit.

It's the kind of place where you can actually chat to the people who made the work, which changes everything. No hushed reverence or velvet ropes. The space itself is unpretentious - more warehouse than white-walled gallery - but that's rather the point. You're getting a genuine glimpse of how working artists operate.

For families with older kids interested in art-making, it's brilliant. Younger ones might lose interest after twenty minutes unless something particularly visual catches their eye. Serious art types will appreciate the rotating exhibitions and artist interviews. Casual browsers? You'll either love the informal approach or find it a bit too bare-bones.

Its real strength is as a half-hour detour during a wider Worcestershire explore rather than a destination in itself. Park up at one of the nearby sites - Boye Meadow is essentially on the doorstep, with others like Malvern Hills and Riverside within easy driving distance - and combine it with Worcester's cathedral and riverside walks. Check ahead for opening times and current exhibitions, as programming varies seasonally.