John Scarland

The John Scarland gallery sits quietly in the Surrey countryside near Lingfield, a proper working artist's space rather than some grand institution. You're looking at contemporary art in an intimate setting - the kind of place where you actually get to see how things are made, not just the finished product behind velvet ropes.

It's best suited to serious art enthusiasts or anyone after a slower pace. You won't find yourself queuing for hours or herding through crowds. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you want to chat with whoever's about. The gallery tends to attract walkers exploring the wider area, and it pairs well with the gentler side of Surrey - the rolling fields rather than the showier attractions.

If you're camping nearby - and there's good choice with Hook Farm Campsite getting top marks just four miles away - this works as a morning outing before heading elsewhere. Long Acres is also close if you're after glamping instead. The Lingfield area itself is quiet countryside, so John Scarland slots nicely into a low-key holiday rather than a packed itinerary.

Check ahead on opening times and whether admission is free - details aren't widely advertised online, which tells you something about the scale of the place. Ring ahead rather than arriving hoping. It's worth the detour if you're genuinely interested in seeing work by the artist, but not worth planning a trip around unless you're already in the area.