The Fen Drayton Biennale

The Fen Drayton Biennale is a contemporary art event that transforms this quiet corner of Cambridgeshire into an open-air gallery every two years. Artists install work across the landscape around Fen Drayton, a small village east of Huntingdon, turning farmland and pathways into exhibition spaces that respond directly to the fenland environment.

It's an unusual proposition - you're not walking into a traditional gallery but rather following a loosely mapped route through countryside, discovering installations as you go. The work tends to be site-specific and often experimental, which means what you see depends entirely on when you visit during the event window. Some pieces are bold and impossible to miss; others require you to look properly at the landscape to spot them.

This works brilliantly if you're already keen on contemporary art or if you enjoy walking and want something beyond the standard park stroll. It's less suited to young children expecting instant gratification, though teenagers interested in art might find it refreshing. Allow a couple of hours minimum, though you could easily spend longer if the work grabs you.

Timing matters - you'll only catch it during biennale years, so check ahead. It's free to visit, which is generous, and brilliant for combining with a stay at one of the nearby campsites like Cuckoo Fen or Waterclose Meadows. The fenland landscape itself is the real draw here - the art is the excuse to properly explore it.