Market Cross

The Market Cross sits right in Mansfield town centre, a proper focal point of the place rather than something you'd stumble upon by accident. It's a gallery space housed in what was historically the market cross building itself - that kind of thing that grounds you in the town's actual bones rather than a shiny new development. Inside you'll find contemporary art exhibitions that rotate regularly, so what's on depends entirely on when you visit.

This is really one for people who like small-town galleries with a bit of local character. It's not the Tate, but that's rather the point. You're getting a genuine community space, not a tourist trap. Art types and people interested in how towns support their cultural life will find it worthwhile. Kids might tolerate it for twenty minutes, max.

You should ring ahead to check what's currently showing and opening hours, as independent galleries do shift their schedules about. Free admission is typical for these spaces, though donations are usually welcome. Allow half an hour unless you're really into what's on the walls.

Stay at one of the holiday parks nearby - Tall Trees is barely a mile away, or if you want something bigger, Center Parcs Sherwood Forest is five and a half miles out. Mansfield itself makes a decent base for exploring Sherwood Forest proper and the wider Nottinghamshire countryside. The Market Cross fits perfectly as a rainy-day stop or an hour between other activities rather than a destination in itself.