Sorbus

Sorbus is a contemporary art gallery tucked away in the Oxfordshire countryside, a few miles from Wallingford. It's the kind of place that rewards a small detour if you're staying in the area, though I'd ring ahead to check opening hours before making the journey. The gallery focuses on visual art and has a genuinely considered programme rather than the scattered installations you sometimes get in rural spaces. Work here tends toward the contemporary and conceptual, so it's not a quick walk-through affair - you'll need time to sit with the pieces. That said, if you're after a proper gallery experience without the crowds of Oxford or the formality of somewhere bigger, it hits the mark. The surrounding landscape is the real star though. Wallingford itself is pleasant enough for an afternoon, with the river and some decent independent shops, but the countryside around here is what draws people to the holiday parks in the region. Rolling Fields Glamping and Bridge Villa, both within easy reach, make decent bases for exploring. Worth coupling Sorbus with a walk along the Thames Path if the weather's decent. Not one for kids determined to sprint through in twenty minutes, but if you've got teenage art enthusiasts or adults keen on seeing what's happening beyond the big institutions, it's worth the effort.