Pollen

You'll find Pollen tucked away in the Cambridge area - a contemporary gallery that punches well above its weight for a region better known for punts and colleges. The space itself is modern and unfussy, the kind of place that lets the work breathe without all the stuffiness you sometimes get in bigger institutions.

What you're looking at depends on the exhibition schedule, but Pollen specializes in contemporary visual art with a genuine eye for emerging and established practitioners. It's not a "walk around for five minutes" spot - the curation actually rewards proper attention. You'll come across painting, sculpture, photography, installations; work that makes you think rather than simply decorate a Instagram post.

This is for people who actively enjoy galleries, to be frank. If contemporary art leaves you cold, skip it. If you're staying at one of the nearby campsites - Fen End Farm, Hempsall Farm, or Chittering Park are all within a few miles - it's a solid rainy-day option or a worthwhile morning before heading into Cambridge proper for lunch.

Allow a couple of hours if you want to actually look. Check their website before you go for current exhibitions and exact opening hours, as these things shift. Free admission would be typical for a smaller independent gallery, but I'd verify that when you visit. It's not far from Cambridge, so bundle it with a college visit or a wander along the Backs if you've got a full day planned.