Orbital

Orbital sits just off Hayling Island, a contemporary gallery that punches well above its weight for a spot this far down the Hampshire coast. It's the kind of place where you'll find serious art without the stuffiness - proper working studio space mixed with exhibition rooms, which means you sometimes catch artists actually making things.

The gallery focuses on contemporary work, often with a strong visual or sculptural bent. You're looking at rotating shows rather than a permanent collection, so what's on depends entirely on when you visit. That's either brilliant or a bit annoying, depending on your luck. Most people spend between an hour and ninety minutes here - enough to properly look without it turning into an endurance test.

It's worth the detour if you're the sort who gets something from modern art, less essential if you're expecting a traditional gallery experience. Kids under twelve will probably get bored after twenty minutes, honestly. The space itself is light and airy, which helps.

Admission details are thin on the ground, so ring ahead before making the trip. Hayling Island itself is caravan-heavy - The Old Dairy Farm Glamping and Hayling Island Holiday Park sit just down the road - making Orbital a decent cultural breather if you're stuck in that corner of the coast for a week. Pair it with a walk along the seafront and you've got a morning sorted.