The Alchemies Studio

The Alchemies Studio sits just outside Hailsham in Sussex, a working creative space that's part gallery, part working studio. It's the sort of place that appeals to people who actually care about craft and process rather than just snapping photos for Instagram. You'll find contemporary work on display alongside demonstrations of various techniques - the focus shifts, but it's always rooted in making things properly by hand.

Visitors tend to be couples and small groups rather than families with young kids, though older children interested in art will get something from it. Allow an hour or so, unless you're the type who gets talking to the artists, in which case you could easily lose an afternoon. The space has a genuine, unpretentious feel - no velvet ropes or gift shop nonsense.

It's well positioned for a wider Sussex holiday, particularly if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby campsites like Dernwood Farm Glamping or The Secret Campsite, both within five miles. The Levels around Hailsham are proper flat walking country, which suits families who want to break up studio visits with easier strolls. Horam Manor Country Park is also close by if you need green space between cultural stops.

The main drawback is that opening hours and admission aren't clearly published online, so you'll want to ring ahead or check their website before visiting. Worth the effort if you're genuinely interested in contemporary craft, but not a must-do if you're just after a quick cultural tick-box.