Sou'-Sou'-West Arts Gallery & Shop

Bridport's art scene centres on this gallery-cum-shop hybrid tucked into the town's characterful streets. It's the sort of place where local makers actually show their work - paintings, prints, jewellery, textiles, the usual gallery fare but done properly. You'll spend anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour here depending on how much you linger, and it's genuinely worth a wander if you're passing through or based at one of the nearby parks like Highlands End or Golden Cap.

What makes it work is the lack of pretension. This isn't a white-walled temple to contemporary art - it's a working shop selling pieces that local artists have actually made. You can buy things or simply nose around, which is how most people end up visiting. The staff tend to know the makers, so you get actual context rather than laminated artist statements.

Families with older kids who aren't allergic to culture will find it a decent rainy-day option. Younger children might get restless unless there's something interactive on. Serious art types should check what's currently showing before making the trip, though Bridport's walkable enough that you'll find something else interesting even if the current exhibition doesn't click.

It's free to browse, though you'll probably want to buy something after spending time there. For anyone staying at Parkdean Resorts West Bay or the other holiday parks in the area, it's a ten-minute drive or a thirty-minute walk into town. Open during typical shop hours, though it's worth confirming before you head over.