Tern Wings

Tern Wings is a contemporary art gallery tucked away in Northumberland, a short drive from Alnwick. It's a working studio space as much as a gallery, which means you're often watching artists actually create rather than just viewing finished pieces behind glass. The focus is on local and regional artists, and the work tends toward the experimental - sculpture, installation, painting, that sort of thing. You'll find it refreshing if you're after something beyond the usual heritage nonsense that dominates this part of the world.

Who'll get the most from it? Art types, obviously, but also anyone after a proper cultural fix without the tourist crowds. Kids might find it interesting if they're the curious sort, though it's not designed for under-fives to run around in. Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you want to chat with whoever's in the studio that day.

It works particularly well as a pocket-sized diversion if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby holiday parks. Woodland Chase Glamping is just five miles away and highly rated, while Coast and Castles Camping offers a proper family-oriented setup. After you've done Alnwick Castle and wandered round the gardens, this gallery provides a genuinely different angle on what Northumberland's creative types are doing right now. Worth the detour if you're staying local for more than a day or two.