Patchings Art Centre

The converted Victorian farm buildings at Patchings don't immediately scream 'art gallery', but that's rather the point. You'll find working studios, exhibition spaces, and a proper working community of artists and craftspeople rather than some sterile white-cube affair. It's the kind of place where you might watch someone actually making something - pottery wheels spinning, painters at easels, jewellers bent over their benches - rather than just viewing finished work behind velvet ropes.

The exhibitions rotate regularly and tend toward contemporary craft and fine art, with a good mix of local and visiting artists. There's a shop selling work directly from the makers, which means decent prices and the satisfaction of knowing exactly who made what you're buying. The cafe does decent coffee and cake, so you can linger without feeling pressured to move on.

It works brilliantly if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Fairview Farm Log Cabins and Lurcher Farm Camping are both close by - and need a half-day activity that doesn't feel forced. Plan two hours, longer if you genuinely enjoy watching craftspeople at work. Parents with very small children might find it a touch quiet and contemplative for their needs, but teenagers interested in art or design will get something real from seeing the working process.

Getting there from Nottingham takes about thirty minutes. Go mid-week if you can - weekends draw larger crowds, and the magic of this place is in the calm, unhurried atmosphere.