spider

The Spider Gallery sits just outside Amersham in Buckinghamshire, a contemporary art space that punches well above its weight for a rural location. It's a proper working gallery rather than a stuffy institution - you'll find rotating exhibitions of painting, sculpture, and installation work from emerging and established artists. The space has genuine character, with exposed brick and industrial bones that suit the work on display.

This is absolutely one for art enthusiasts and anyone keen to see what's happening beyond London's gallery circuit. If you're dragging reluctant teenagers along, fair warning: there's no café, no gift shop theatrics, just art. That said, serious collectors and creative types will find it rewarding, especially if there's an exhibition that catches your eye. The intimate scale means you can work through it in forty minutes, tops.

Opening times and admission fees aren't guaranteed year-round, so ring ahead or check their website before making the trip from Amersham town centre. It's worth planning around if you're staying at Penn Meadow Farm Camping nearby - a quick detour en route to a walk or a proper lunch spot. The gallery tends to attract a thoughtful crowd rather than the wedding-party-on-a-coach brigade, which means you can actually think while you're looking. If you're interested in the contemporary art scene and want something off the beaten track, it's well worth the visit.