Solid Imagery

Solid Imagery sits just outside Ringwood, a proper gem for anyone who takes their photography seriously. This is a working museum and gallery space devoted to the craft of sculpture and three-dimensional art - the kind of place where you can actually see artists at their benches, materials scattered about, the whole creative process on display rather than locked away behind glass.

What you're looking at is sculpture in the round - bronze castings, stone work, experimental pieces that make you walk around them rather than just stand and stare. It's hands-on in the best sense. The space itself feels lived-in, which matters more than you'd think in a museum setting.

For sculptors and serious art enthusiasts, this is absolutely worth the drive from Ringwood. Casual visitors might spend an hour here; those who know their Rodin from their Henry Moore could easily stay longer. Families with restless kids might find it a bit specialist, truth be told - there's not much here to keep under-tens entertained unless they're already interested in how things are made.

You're well-positioned for the caravan parks dotted around - Ashley Heath is barely three miles away, Hill Cottage Farm in Fordingbridge not much further. The New Forest lies just beyond, so you could easily pair this with a longer walking day and make a proper trip of it.

Best visited on a quiet weekday morning when you can actually speak to whoever's working there. They'll tell you things no guidebook can.