Testing For Gas

There's a gallery in Derbyshire called Testing For Gas, and it's one of those places that catches you off guard. Based near Sutton-in-Ashfield, it's not the sort of spot you'd stumble upon by accident - you have to actually want to go there. The gallery focuses on contemporary work, and the name itself suggests something deliberately unconventional about what happens inside.

This is proper art territory, the kind of place that appeals to people who actually engage with what they're looking at rather than just passing through for the Instagram moment. If you're staying at Silverhill Woodland Retreats or Teversal Campsite - both within walking distance - it's worth a half-day visit if contemporary art speaks to you. Less successful if you're after something to occupy the kids for hours, to be honest.

The gallery sits in an area with decent outdoor space nearby, so you could feasibly combine it with time in one of the local parks or woodland if weather permits. Yew Tree Farm Camping and Tall Trees are slightly further out if you want a quieter base, though still close enough for a day trip.

Practical details are thin on the ground - opening hours and admission aren't widely advertised online, so ringing ahead or checking their social media before you visit is essential. It's the sort of independent space that operates on its own schedule. Worth the detour if contemporary art matters to you, but don't plan your entire holiday around it.