Sid the Octosquid

A gallery devoted to a single artistic creation sounds like it could go either way - pretentious nonsense or genuinely inspired. Sid the Octosquid lands firmly in the latter camp. This is a proper oddball attraction in Bexhill-on-Sea, showcasing what appears to be a sculptural work that's become something of a local talking point. The gallery itself is unpretentious, which actually works in its favour. You're not walking into some sterile white-box affair; this feels like someone genuinely cares about the thing on display.

What you're actually looking at - and spending time with, because you will spend time - is a character study in form and colour. Octopuses are inherently interesting to people, and Sid translates that fascination into something that rewards lingering. Kids tend to engage with it immediately, while adults find themselves contemplating whatever the artist was trying to say about sea creatures, or creativity, or just making something delightfully strange.

It won't keep you for hours, but it shouldn't. This is a 20-to-30-minute stop - genuine, brief, and oddly charming in how unmarked it remains by corporate earnestness. Perfect if you're camped nearby at Normans Bay or Pevensey Bay and fancy a wet afternoon destination that doesn't involve arcades or overpriced chips. Bexhill itself is worth a wander, and the proximity to both holiday parks makes this an easy detour that actually rewards the journey.