Newcastle Contemporary Art

Newcastle Contemporary Art sits in the heart of the city's cultural quarter, though getting there from Stanley takes a proper drive - we're talking forty minutes or so through the North East. Once you arrive, though, it's worth the trip if contemporary work does anything for you. The gallery itself is slick and modern, with rotating exhibitions that shift every few months, so there's genuine incentive to come back. Inside you'll find everything from installations to video work to paintings that make you squint and wonder what you're looking at. Some of it lands brilliantly. Other pieces... well, that's half the fun of contemporary art, isn't it?

This is absolutely a spot for adults who actually want to engage with what they're seeing. Children under twelve will lose interest within an hour unless there's a particularly interactive show on. The cafe is decent if uninspired, and the gift shop leans heavily on the usual gallery fare - art books, postcards, that sort of thing.

If you're based at Beamish Holiday Park, Newcastle Contemporary makes a cracking half-day out alongside a proper walk around the Quayside or a visit to the Discovery Museum. Admission is free, which removes the sting of the drive, and opening hours are typically generous - though you'll want to check online before heading over, as exhibitions sometimes close between shows.

Bring an open mind. Leave the kids behind unless they're genuinely art-curious.