Mrs Booth

A small gallery tucked away in Birchington that punches well above its weight. Mrs Booth is the kind of place you'd stumble upon by accident, but the work inside makes you genuinely glad you did. The space itself is intimate - no grand foyers or overwhelming crowds - which means you can actually spend time with the pieces without feeling rushed or self-conscious.

What you get here depends on what's on, but expect contemporary art with real substance. The rotating exhibitions tend to favour painting and sculpture, with a refreshing focus on emerging and mid-career artists rather than the usual suspects. There's something proper engaging about the scale and scale of the work in such a compact setting.

This works best for anyone who takes their art seriously but finds major galleries exhausting. If you're dragging reluctant teenagers along, an hour might feel long. But for painters, designers, or anyone wanting to see where interesting stuff is actually happening - rather than what's been deemed culturally important - it's worth the visit.

It's ideal if you're staying at Birchington Vale Holiday Park or The Foxhunter Park and want an afternoon away from the beach. Combine it with a walk around Birchington itself - the town centre has enough cafes and curiosity to make a proper half-day of it. Check ahead before driving over, as independent galleries like this can have unpredictable hours.