The Exhibit ‘A’ Gallery

There's a contemporary art gallery tucked away in Penrith that actually takes itself seriously without the pretension you'd expect from somewhere dealing in modern work. Exhibit 'A' Gallery is exactly what it sounds - a proper space for local and regional artists to show their stuff, rotating exhibitions that tend toward the interesting rather than the inaccessible.

What you get is genuine engagement with artists who are working right now, not a parade of big names behind velvet ropes. The gallery space itself is well-used and intimate, the kind of place where you can spend 45 minutes or three hours depending on what's on. It works equally well for serious art types and casual visitors who just fancy something different on a Penrith afternoon.

If you're staying at Howdy Glamping - which is only a few miles outside town - this makes a cracking rainy-day option, or a culture fix between walks. Penrith itself is compact enough that you can easily combine the gallery with a wander through the town centre, grab a coffee, and move on. It's not a destination on its own, but as part of a Lake District stay it fills a genuine gap. The entry's usually accessible and opening hours are flexible, so ring ahead before making the trip in from the glamping site.

Real art, real space, real people running it. Worth an hour if you're in town.