The can-can

Just outside Brighton, The Can-Can is a gallery that takes its name dead literally - it's housed in a converted warehouse space that still feels industrial and raw. The setup is refreshingly unpretentious: contemporary art, installations, and the sort of work that doesn't need a ten-minute audio guide to justify itself.

You'll find everything from photography and painting to video pieces and sculpture. The rotating exhibitions mean there's proper variety across the year, so it's worth checking what's on before you visit. It's the kind of place where artists actually get decent wall space and breathing room rather than being crammed shoulder-to-shoulder.

For art enthusiasts and creatives, this is genuinely worth the trip from central Brighton. Families with older kids might enjoy it if they're into contemporary work, but younger children could lose interest quickly. Allow a solid hour if you're engaged, or forty minutes if you're just dipping in.

The gallery sits well within reach of Southdown Way Caravan & Camping Park and Foot of the Downs if you're basing yourself in the area for a few days. Both are well-rated and give you easy access back to Brighton's seafront and South Downs, so you can pair a gallery morning with a coastal walk or some proper countryside wandering afterwards. It's a decent dose of culture without the stuffiness of bigger institutions.