Lolworth

Just outside Cambridge, Lolworth gallery sits in a quiet corner of Cambridgeshire that most visitors skip entirely. It's a working artist space rather than a grand museum - the kind of place where you might actually bump into someone making something. The gallery itself occupies a modest building, but what matters is what's on the walls and what's happening in the studios.

You'll get the most from a visit if you like contemporary art and don't mind a bit of hit-and-miss with the work on display. There's no grand narrative, no gift shop pushing merchandise, just art by people who work nearby. It's the sort of spot that appeals to serious art types more than casual browsers - if you're dragging reluctant teenagers round East Anglia, this probably won't hold their attention for long.

The practical side: opening hours and admission fees aren't well documented online, so ring ahead before making the trip from Cambridge. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if the current show grabs you. It works perfectly as a break during a park holiday in the area - Crystal Lakes Leisure and Cuckoo Fen Campsite are both within five miles, making it an easy detour between camping and exploring the Cambridgeshire countryside. Don't expect anything slick or Instagram-ready. Go if you actually care about seeing artists at work.