Southampton City Art Gallery

The art gallery sits right in Southampton's city centre, which makes it dead convenient if you're staying at one of the nearby parks like Sunnydale Farm or Mercury Holiday Park. Inside, you'll find a solid collection spanning everything from old masters to contemporary work - nothing that'll blow your mind, but proper worth an hour or two if you're not in the mood for another coastal walk.

It's the kind of place that works best on a rainy afternoon. Families with older kids won't struggle with boredom, though under-tens might need bribing. The real value is that it's free entry, so you're not out of pocket if you only stay 45 minutes. The building itself is fairly standard - no architectural drama, just straightforward Victorian stuff.

You can easily combine it with a stroll through Southampton's old town or grab lunch nearby. If you're based at Ashurst Campsite or Bell Tent Glamping, it's worth the short drive in to break up a week of park life. Don't expect to spend half a day here unless you're genuinely into gallery-hopping. Best bet is checking their current exhibitions before you go - sometimes they get touring shows that are actually worth the trip. Go mid-week if you can; weekends bring the school groups.