Oxford Swift Tower

The Swift Tower in Oxford is a converted Victorian water tower that's been turned into a proper quirky gallery space. It's a slim, cylindrical brick structure - the kind of building you've probably walked past a hundred times without really noticing - now hosting rotating exhibitions from local and emerging artists. The gallery sits right in the city, so it's easy to slot into an Oxford afternoon without any faffing about.

What you'll find inside depends on when you visit, since the programming changes regularly. Past shows have ranged from painting and sculpture to photography and installations. Because it's a tower, the space is intimate - you're spiralling up through narrow rooms, which either feels cosy or a bit claustrophobic depending on your mood. It's not somewhere you'll spend hours, but 45 minutes to an hour gives you time to properly look.

Arts types and anyone after something beyond the usual Oxford college circuit will get the most from it. If you've got teenagers who can't face another museum of dead Romans, this might actually register. Families with younger kids? Less certain - there's nowhere to sit, and the stairs are narrow.

The tower's free to enter, which is brilliant. If you're staying at Common Leys Farm - a solid 5-star caravan park just outside the city - it's worth a quick trip in. Diamond Caravan Park's closer at under 6 miles, but honestly the reviews there are mixed. Either way, this pairs well with a proper Oxford wander rather than being a reason to plan your whole trip around.