Hippos

There's a contemporary art gallery tucked into Whitley Bay that doesn't announce itself like the bigger coastal attractions. Hippos is run by artists, for artists - it's the sort of place where you'll find genuinely interesting work on the walls rather than safe, tried-and-tested fare. The space itself is modest but well-curated, with rotating exhibitions that tend toward the experimental and the bold.

You'll get the most from this if you actually care about art. It's not the sort of venue that works as idle entertainment - there's no gift shop theatre, no café layering on the experience. Just good work and the chance to talk to people who know why it matters. Allow an hour at most, though if an exhibition grabs you, you could easily lose more time.

Frankly, it's worth a visit if you're staying at Parkdean Resorts Whitley Bay Holiday Park or the Old Hartley Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite - it's close enough to pop into on an afternoon when the weather turns. The seaside crowds won't be here, which is rather the point. Families with young kids will find it a bit dry, but teenagers with any interest in visual culture could surprise you. Check what's on before you go - the quality depends entirely on the current exhibition. Whitley Bay itself has the usual holiday park appeal, but Hippos gives you a reason to poke around the town proper.