Michael Thomas Bass

The Michael Thomas Bass gallery sits in Derby, a proper showcase for what this pottery collector spent his life acquiring. You're looking at ceramics - lots of them - displayed with the kind of care that tells you someone genuinely cared about these pieces rather than just throwing them in a room and calling it a museum.

What strikes you walking round is the breadth of it. There's English pottery rubbing shoulders with continental work, and the labels actually explain why each thing matters rather than just telling you when it was made. It's the sort of place where you can spend twenty minutes on a single display case if you're into that sort of thing, or breeze through in forty-five if ceramics aren't your religion.

History types and collectors will find themselves properly engaged here. Families with kids might want to manage expectations - there's no interactive stuff to speak of, so under-tens could get restless. That said, if your teenagers are into design or craft, it's worth the visit.

Derby itself is walkable enough, and Hill Farm Camping & Caravan Park sits just four miles out if you're making a longer stay of it. The gallery doesn't demand a full day - couple of hours max - so you could easily combine it with Derby's other attractions. Ring ahead to check opening times before you visit, as these smaller galleries can be a bit inconsistent with their hours.