New Art Exchange

The New Art Exchange occupies a converted Victorian building in Nottingham's cultural quarter, and it's genuinely worth a look if you're staying at any of the nearby campsites. Contemporary art is the draw here - rotating exhibitions tend toward the experimental and socially engaged rather than safe crowd-pleasers, which means sometimes you'll love it, sometimes you won't. That's part of the appeal.

The space itself is modest but well-used. You'll see painting, sculpture, video work, and installations from emerging and established artists, with a particular focus on work from artists of colour and voices that don't get the usual gallery airtime. Most visits take between 45 minutes and two hours depending on how deep you want to go with each piece. Staff are genuinely helpful if you want context.

Families with older kids who can sit with an idea for more than five seconds will get something from it. Younger children might find it a bit thin on the interactive front, but there's usually at least one work that sparks conversation. It's absolutely worth combining with a walk around Nottingham's Lace Market or the Castle grounds - both are within spitting distance.

If you're camping at Holme Pierrepont or Bell Tent Village, you're only a few minutes' drive into the city centre. Admission is typically free or very cheap, though I'd recommend checking their website for current exhibitions before you make the trip - some shows are genuinely brilliant, others less so. Go when you've got decent light and no time pressure.