Small Eyes

Small Eyes is Leigh Mulley's gallery space just outside Folkestone, showcasing contemporary art that punches above its weight. The work here tends toward the bold and conceptual rather than the safe and decorative, which means you'll either walk out buzzing or mildly baffled - often both.

This is genuinely not a quick tick-box visit. If you're the sort who reads gallery notes and actually thinks about what you're looking at, you'll easily spend an hour or more. Families with restless kids under twelve will probably find it a bit of a stretch, but teenagers interested in art practice will get something real from it.

The space itself is intimate rather than grand, which works in its favour. No vast echoing rooms to make you feel small; instead you're up close with the work. It's free to visit, though opening hours can be unpredictable, so check ahead via the website before making the trip from Folkestone town centre.

If you're basing yourself at one of the nearby caravan sites - Varne Ridge is closest at 2.5 miles - this slots nicely into a morning before heading to the coastal paths or spending the afternoon in Folkestone proper. It's the sort of thing that transforms a generic seaside break into something with a bit more edge. Worth the detour if contemporary art actually interests you, less so if you're just after something to do on a rainy Tuesday.