The Glass Barn Studio - D & J Watson

You'll find yourself in a working studio where two glass artists actually make their work - not just display it behind velvet ropes. The Glass Barn Studio, run by D & J Watson, is the real deal: kilns going, glass being shaped, the lot. It's a proper working space, which means the energy in there feels completely different from a standard gallery.

What you get depends on when you visit. On a good day, you'll watch the artists at work, see the finished pieces - mostly sculptural glass and functional work with serious craft behind it - and actually have a conversation about what they're doing. There's no pretentious nonsense. If you're into glass art or just want to see how something gets made from start to finish, this beats a polished showroom every time.

The studio is around 3.8 miles from Northumberland Nook, one of the area's top-rated holiday parks, so it's easily done as a half-day outing if you're based nearby. Give yourself a couple of hours, though arriving without warning might catch them mid-firing. It's worth ringing ahead if you can track down their contact details.

Families with teenagers interested in art and craft will get more from this than younger kids - there's not much interactive stuff, and it's genuinely a working space, not an activity centre. But if you're the type who loves watching makers at work and understanding the process, you'll be properly absorbed.