John Fallon Gallery

The John Fallon Gallery sits in Minehead, a coastal town that's seen better days but still pulls families to its seaside attractions. This is a working studio and gallery space where you can actually watch artists at it - or at least see what they've been up to. The focus tends to be on contemporary work, with rotating exhibitions that range from paintings to sculpture to whatever the current crop of Somerset artists feel like showing.

It's the sort of place that works brilliantly if you're already in Minehead with kids who need a break from the beach or if you've got a genuine interest in local art. A quick visit takes 45 minutes to an hour. You're not going to spend half your day here, but it's free (or a small donation, though we'd need to check), which matters when you're on holiday.

What makes it useful rather than essential is its proximity to the caravan parks - Butlins is just down the road, as is the Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite. If you're based at either for a week, it's a decent wet-day option. The Hoburne Blue Anchor site, about 4 miles out, gives you more breathing room, but you'd probably drive in for this rather than walk it.

Minehead itself offers the pier, the West Somerset Railway, and decent enough beaches. The gallery slots in as a bit of culture without pretension. Don't trek specially from elsewhere - but if you're staying locally, go.