SokolArt Garden Gallery

You'll find SokolArt tucked away in the Cambridgeshire countryside east of Peterborough - a working gallery space that doubles as a proper artist's studio. It's the kind of place where you actually meet the people making the work, which beats walking round most conventional galleries hands down.

The garden itself is as much the draw as what's inside. Sculptures and installations dot the grounds, so there's proper cause to wander about and spend time looking. Whether you're after contemporary art or just fancy a peaceful afternoon poking around someone's creative space, there's something absorbing about seeing work in progress and finished pieces side by side.

You're looking at a couple of hours well spent here - an hour inside, another outside if you take it slow. It's ideal for art enthusiasts and anyone who finds traditional white-walled galleries a bit sterile. Fair warning though: opening hours and admission fees aren't always straightforward, so ringing ahead from Peterborough would save you a wasted journey.

If you're staying at Ferry Meadows just four miles away, this makes a cracking half-day stop during a park holiday. It's far less touristy than bigger attractions, and the garden setting means you're not cabin-bound if the weather's decent. Nene Outdoors is similarly close if you're after somewhere slightly quieter. Both give you easy access to this corner of Cambridgeshire without feeling like you've joined a coach tour.