The Bay Gallery

The Bay Gallery sits right in Aberystwyth, a proper little art space that punches above its weight. This is the sort of place locals actually go to rather than somewhere that exists purely for tourists, which immediately makes it worth seeking out.

You'll find contemporary art and craft work on display - the kind of stuff that changes, so there's a reason to pop back if you're staying a while. It's small enough to cover in 30-45 minutes without feeling rushed, but substantial enough that you won't feel short-changed. The gallery takes its work seriously without being stuffy about it, which matters.

If you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Aberystwyth Holiday Village is practically on the doorstep, and Clarach Bay Holiday Village sits just down the coast - this makes an easy wet-weather alternative or a quiet morning out. It's the kind of thing that breaks up a beach-focused holiday without requiring military planning.

Historically minded visitors and anyone who cares about supporting working artists will get the most from a visit. Kids might last 20 minutes unless you've got teenagers who actually engage with art. It's free to enter, which removes any risk of disappointment.

About the only downside is that opening hours and specific exhibitions aren't consistently publicised online, so ring ahead before you trek over. But that's also rather refreshing - there's something nice about a gallery that isn't optimised to death for Instagram.