The Heron

The Heron sits in Lancing, a straightforward contemporary gallery that doesn't pretend to be anything grander than it is. It's a working space for visual arts - exhibitions rotate through, so what's on depends entirely on when you visit. The building itself is modern and uncluttered, which means the artwork gets proper attention rather than fighting for space with ornate plasterwork.

This is the sort of place that appeals to people who actually care about what's on the walls rather than ticking off a list. If your family includes teenagers who've developed actual opinions about art, or if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks and fancy a couple of hours indoors, it's worth checking their current programme. You won't spend half a day here - count on an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're thorough.

The Barn Caravan Park and Eastern Sands are both within a couple of miles, so it's an easy detour if you're based there for the week. Not the sort of attraction that'll make the drive worthwhile on its own, but proper handy if you're already in the area and need a break from the seafront or the Downs.

Best bet: ring ahead or check online to see what's actually on before you go. Nothing worse than arriving at a gallery to find the space between exhibitions.