The Fine Art Company Ltd

Walking into The Fine Art Company Ltd in Lewes, you're met with proper contemporary work - the kind that makes you stop and actually look rather than drift past on autopilot. It's a working gallery space, not some stuffy museum piece, and the selection rotates regularly enough that repeat visits don't feel stale.

The space itself is intimate. You'll spend anywhere from half an hour to two hours depending on how deep you want to go with each piece. Staff know their stuff and aren't pushy about it - they'll talk your ear off if you're keen, or leave you alone if you'd rather browse. Families with older kids do fine here; younger ones might get restless after 20 minutes or so.

It works brilliantly as a stopping point if you're based at The Secret Campsite or Blackberry Wood for a longer Sussex break. Both are five minutes down the road, which means you can pop into town for a proper look around Lewes itself - the castle, the antique shops, decent pubs - and slip into the gallery without it feeling like a forced cultural obligation.

Best visited midweek when you've actually got breathing room. Weekends can pull in a crowd. Admission details weren't confirmed at the time of writing, so ring ahead or check their website before you visit. Worth the detour if you're into contemporary art; less essential if you're purely after the countryside.