MAKE Southwest

MAKE Southwest sits in Newton Abbot as a proper working gallery and studio space - the kind of place where you can actually watch artists making their work rather than just gawping at finished pieces behind glass. It's refreshingly unpretentious, with local craftspeople and makers showing everything from ceramics to textiles to jewellery.

The appeal is straightforward: you get to see the creative process in action. Artists are often at their benches, which means you can ask questions, understand their thinking, and sometimes even watch a pot being thrown or a piece being assembled. It's less sterile than your typical gallery experience and far more interactive.

This works brilliantly if you're into craft and design - proper enthusiasts will spend a good hour here. Kids might enjoy it for twenty minutes, depending on their attention span and whether an artist is actively working. It's free to wander round, which is the right call for this type of space.

The big draw is honesty. You're seeing work made by people who live nearby, not international names or corporate collections. Prices are reasonable, and buying directly from makers means your money goes to the right place.

Nearby Oakmoor Touring Park - an adults-only site just over a mile away - makes it easy to build MAKE Southwest into a longer break. Pair it with a wander round Newton Abbot town centre if you've got a couple of hours to spare. Go midweek if you can; weekends draw more browsing tourists than serious craft lovers.