Pinnacle from Merton College

Merton College's Pinnacle gallery sits quietly in Oxford, a contemporary art space that doesn't shout about itself. You'll find it tucked into one of England's oldest colleges, which already puts you in the right headspace - wandering medieval quads before stepping into something altogether modern.

The gallery itself is fairly compact, which means you won't need hours here. It's the kind of space where quality matters more than scale. They rotate exhibitions, so what's on depends entirely on when you visit - worth checking ahead rather than pitching up hoping for the best. The setting's the real draw: you get proper art viewing alongside the architecture of the college itself, which beats a high street gallery any day.

This works well for art-minded types and anyone already exploring Oxford's colleges. If you're with restless children or you're after something more obviously entertaining, it's probably not your stop. The admission situation isn't entirely clear online, so ring ahead before you go - college galleries can be fiddly about access.

If you're based at Oxford Riverside Glamping or one of the caravan parks around Kidlington, the college is dead easy to reach. You could easily combine this with a stroll through central Oxford, punting, and the various museums nearby. It's a bonus activity rather than a destination in itself, but for anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary art, it's well worth the trip.