The Bargeman

The Bargeman is a small independent gallery tucked into the Surrey countryside, the sort of place you'd walk past without realising what you'd stumbled on unless someone tipped you off. It's a working artist space as much as a gallery, so you get the slightly chaotic energy of a real creative studio rather than the hushed reverence of a major institution.

The focus here is contemporary work, and the exhibitions rotate regularly enough to warrant a return visit if you're based nearby. You're looking at painting, sculpture, and mixed media depending on what's on - nothing too avant-garde that it loses you, but nothing safe either. The space itself is modest, which suits the scale of the work. Most people spend 45 minutes to an hour here without feeling rushed.

It works well as a detour if you're camping at Chantry Wood Campsite just 1.7 miles away, or any of the other parks in the immediate area - Wyldecrest Surrey Hills and Chapel Farm are both within easy reach. Pop in on a weekend, chat to whoever's running it that day, and you'll get far more out of it than a solo wander around somewhere massive.

Admission details and current opening hours aren't readily available online, so ring ahead or check their social media before planning a specific visit. Worth the effort though if you've got a taste for contemporary art and don't mind something on the smaller, more personal scale.