Penwith Gallery

The Penwith Gallery sits in St Ives, that chaotic seaside town where you can barely move for tourists and ice cream vans, but this space cuts through the noise. It's a contemporary art gallery showing work by artists with genuine roots in West Cornwall - the kind of place where you'll see paintings and sculptures that actually respond to the landscape rather than just cashing in on it.

What you get depends entirely on what's on when you visit. The shows rotate, so it's not a permanent collection you'd plan a half-day around. Instead, think of it as a proper diversion if you're already in St Ives for the beaches and restaurants. An hour is enough to work through most exhibitions without feeling rushed. No admission fee bites, which helps when you're juggling holiday spending.

For families with older kids or anyone interested in contemporary art, it's worth a look. Young children might struggle - there's limited entertainment value beyond the walls. Art history types and creatives will get the most mileage, particularly if there's a Cornish or landscape-focused show on.

If you're parked up at Polmanter Touring Park, it's barely over a mile away - close enough for a morning visit before heading to the beach. Even from Haven Riviere Sands or St Ives Holiday Village, it's a quick trip into town. Check what's hanging before you visit though; an uninspiring show isn't worth breaking your beach routine for.