Studio 106

Studio 106 sits just outside Brighton, a working gallery space where you can actually watch artists doing their thing rather than just staring at finished work behind gallery walls. It's the sort of place that rewards turning up without a rigid plan - you wander in, see what's on, chat to whoever's in the studio that day. The space itself has that raw, unpolished feel that comes with genuine creative studios; no corporate polish, just people making work.

This works best for art enthusiasts who get a kick out of seeing process as much as product, and for anyone fed up with sterile white-cube galleries. Kids won't get much from it unless they're genuinely into art already - it's not interactive in that way. Give yourself an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you want to have a proper look around and a chat.

The real value here is how it fits into a Sussex coast trip. You're close enough to Brighton's pier, the Lanes, and the seafront to drop in between other things, rather than making a special journey. If you're staying at one of the caravan parks nearby - Foot of the Downs, Eastern Sands, or Beach Park are all within five or six miles - it's a decent rainy-day option or a break from beach time. It's free or very cheap entry (details are thin online, so ring ahead), which makes it worth the detour if you're in the area anyway. Just don't expect it to be a headline attraction. It's a proper local spot for art lovers.