Inspire

You'll find this contemporary gallery tucked away in Bexhill-on-Sea, and it's the sort of place that rewards a lazy afternoon when the weather's turned or you've had enough beach for one day. Inspire is a working gallery space where you can actually watch artists at it - there's something oddly compelling about seeing someone bend a piece of copper or sketch out a design while you're standing three feet away. The work on display tends toward sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media, and it changes regularly enough that even locals pop back to see what's new.

It's genuinely good for anyone interested in contemporary craft. Families with older kids who aren't completely bored by art will find it manageable - nobody's going to spend three hours here, but an hour's a solid visit. Younger children might get restless unless they're into making things themselves, which sometimes the gallery runs workshops for.

Admission details are a bit hazy, so ring ahead before you go. The beauty of staying at Normans Bay Camping and Caravanning Club Site just four and a half miles away is that you're close enough to pop into town for an hour without it feeling like a major expedition. Beech Estate Campsite is a touch further out but rated exceptionally highly. Combine Inspire with a proper walk along the seafront or a browse through Bexhill's De La Warr Pavilion down the road, and you've got a decent afternoon sorted.