Stella Dore Gallery

The Stella Dore Gallery sits in Saint Leonards-on-Sea, a stretch of the Sussex coast that doesn't always make the headlines but rewards a proper look around. This is a contemporary art space run with genuine passion - the kind of place where you'll find original paintings, sculpture, and rotating exhibitions from artists who actually know what they're doing, rather than the mass-produced stuff you'd find in a chain gallery.

You're looking at an intimate venue, which means it won't swallow hours of your time - realistic visit is 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how engaged you get. That's actually ideal if you're holidaying in the area with a family or mixed group; it slots neatly into an afternoon without becoming a slog. The work on show changes, so there's reason to return if you're staying local.

Saint Leonards itself is walkable and has decent cafes and fish and chips shops nearby, which counts for something. If you're based at one of the holiday parks - Combe Haven is just a mile and a half away, or Crowhurst Park at 3.4 miles - the gallery makes a fine low-key outing on a day when the weather's iffy. It's not a blockbuster attraction, but that's rather the point. You won't queue, you won't feel herded, and you'll likely see something that actually makes you think. Worth the detour if contemporary art interests you at all.