Silver Tree

Silver Tree is a proper art gallery tucked away in the Stoke-on-Trent area, the kind of place that rewards a bit of poking around rather than a quick coach tour stop. It's a working creative space where you can actually see artists at their easels, which beats staring at work behind velvet ropes any day. The gallery itself focuses on contemporary visual art - paintings, sculptures, installations - though the exact current exhibition changes seasonally, so best check ahead before making the journey.

This isn't somewhere you'll spend all day in, realistically. A solid hour, ninety minutes max if you're genuinely keen on art and chat to the artists. It works brilliantly for anyone serious about supporting independent makers - much better than another high street gallery chain - and it's the sort of place that families might enjoy if the kids are old enough to understand art is about looking, not touching.

Being near Stoke-on-Trent puts you in ceramics country, so you could easily thread this into a broader creative tourism day. The nearby caravan sites - Luzlow Caravan Site is just 3.3 miles away, and there's Glamping at Holly Grove Farm at 3.6 miles if you fancy something with a bit more comfort - make it accessible as part of a wider holiday. Stone Wall Farm CL and Castle Camping Ltd offer other basing options within six miles.

Admission details aren't currently confirmed, so ring ahead to check opening hours and whether there's a donation or fee. Worth doing that anyway - you might catch the artists mid-project.