The Clouds are High

The Clouds are High is a contemporary art gallery tucked away in the Sussex countryside near Haywards Heath, and it's the sort of place that rewards a detour if you're into visual art that doesn't announce itself loudly. The space itself is part of the appeal - a working studio and gallery combined, which means you get that honest, slightly rough-around-the-edges feeling rather than the sterile polish of a high-street venue.

What you'll actually find depends on what's on during your visit, as the programming shifts seasonally. The focus tends toward emerging and established artists working across painting, sculpture, and mixed media. It's not massive - you won't spend hours here - but that's rather the point. You can walk through properly, read the notes, maybe talk to someone who actually knows the work, and be back in Haywards Heath for lunch.

This suits artists and art students far more than casual browsers, though anyone with a genuine curiosity will find something worth stopping for. If you're camping at Worth Forest Glamping or Hook Farm Campsite, it's well within striking distance as an afternoon activity during a park-based holiday.

Best advice: ring ahead first. Opening hours and admission aren't fixed, and the gallery operates on a slightly irregular schedule. You don't want to drive out expecting to find it open only to hit a closed door. It's a proper working space first, gallery second, which is exactly why it's worth visiting in the first place.