Tattooing At Gunpoint

The name alone stops you dead. Tattooing At Gunpoint is a gallery in Sussex that trades on provocation, and it delivers exactly that - though what you find inside is far more conceptual than the title suggests. It's contemporary art with real bite, the kind of place that makes you think twice about what you're looking at rather than just move through it on autopilot.

The gallery sits within easy striking distance of Brighton, so it works nicely as a detour if you're already down on the coast. The work here tends toward the edgy and unconventional. You're looking at pieces that challenge, sometimes disturb, often fascinate. It's not a leisurely afternoon wander - you'll want to spend proper time with each piece, reading the context, sitting with the discomfort if there is one.

This is strictly for adults with an appetite for contemporary art that doesn't play it safe. If you've got teenagers interested in modern galleries and willing to engage with difficult concepts, they might get something from it too. Kids after dinosaurs and interactive displays will be bored rigid within five minutes.

Combine it with Downsview Park if you're staying locally and want to mix gallery time with some green space - it's only five miles away, so easily doable in a day. Check ahead for opening hours and admission fees before you head over; smaller galleries like this can keep irregular schedules.