The Artique Galleries

The Artique Galleries sit tucked away in Leicester, a proper working art space that feels nothing like a sterile white cube. Walk in and you'll find contemporary art on the walls - paintings, installations, sometimes sculpture - but what makes it different is the atmosphere. Artists actually use the studio spaces here, so you're not just looking at finished work; you're glimpsing how things get made.

It's best suited to art enthusiasts rather than families after a quick outing. If you've got kids, they'll last maybe forty minutes before restlessness sets in. For serious collectors or anyone interested in the East Midlands contemporary art scene, though, it's absolutely worth an afternoon. The staff know their stuff and won't condescend if you ask questions.

Admission details aren't widely published online, so ring ahead before you visit - hours vary depending on exhibitions and studio activity. Leicester itself has enough going on to fill a day trip, and if you're staying at Charnwood Acres Caravan Park just outside the city, it's only six miles in.

Timing-wise, allow an hour unless there's a major show on. Visit mid-week if you can; weekends draw the crowds and lose some of the studio intimacy. It won't blow your mind if you're after a blockbuster experience, but if you appreciate watching artists at work and seeing what's actually being made in the Midlands right now, it's worth the detour.