The Alnwick Gallery

The Alnwick Gallery sits in the heart of Alnwick itself - not Chathill, despite what some postcodes suggest - and it's a proper art space that punches above its weight for a market town in Northumberland. The building is housed in a converted library, all red brick and Victorian earnestness, but inside it's been done up with real flair. You're looking at contemporary art exhibitions that rotate regularly, plus craft pieces and installations that actually make you think rather than just drift past.

It's brilliant for art enthusiasts and anyone who wants more than just a casual wander round the gift shop. Families with older kids who can appreciate something beyond dinosaurs will have a decent time, though younger ones might fidget after forty minutes. The gallery staff are genuinely knowledgeable - not the bored sort you get sometimes - and worth chatting to about what's on.

Admission is free, which is refreshing, though donations are encouraged and a small shop sells prints and bits. Allow an hour to two hours depending on what's exhibiting. Check their website before you go because shows change and occasionally they host special events that are worth planning around.

If you're camping at any of the parks within five to six miles - Doxford Farm or Dunstan Hill are your closest - this makes a proper rainy afternoon option or a break from the coast. Pair it with Alnwick Castle just down the road and you've got a solid morning sorted. The town itself has decent cafes and restaurants, so you can make a day of it without too much hassle.