Letting Go

Walking into Letting Go near Sawbridgeworth, you're confronted immediately with work that doesn't whisper - it shouts. This is a gallery space where contemporary art takes centre stage, and the artists here aren't interested in playing it safe.

The space itself rewards a proper look around. Exhibitions rotate, so what you'll see depends on timing, but expect installations and pieces that provoke more than they soothe. It's the kind of place where you leave thinking differently about something, or occasionally frustrated - which is rather the point. Not every piece lands for every visitor, and that's fine.

This works best for people who actually engage with art rather than photograph it for Instagram. If you're after something to fill an afternoon while staying at The Wild Retreat at Redricks Lake or Toad Abode, you'll find it absorbing for an hour or so. Younger kids might lose interest fast unless they're the type to sit with visual ideas. Couples and serious art types will get more from it.

Before you head out, ring ahead or check their social media - opening hours and admission details aren't fixed across all seasons, and you'll want to know what's currently on. Sawbridgeworth itself is a modest market town, so factor in a coffee stop while you're passing through. It's worth the detour if contemporary work appeals to you, but don't expect a grand or polished experience. This is deliberately rough around the edges.