The Jane Adams Gallery

The Jane Adams Gallery sits in Penzance and punches well above its weight for a modest contemporary art space. You're looking at a working gallery that actually takes risks with its exhibitions rather than playing it safe with coastal watercolours and seascapes. The space itself is intimate - not vast, which means you won't feel lost wandering round, but there's genuine curatorial thought behind what gets shown.

Adams herself has a solid reputation locally, and the gallery reflects that - it's the kind of place where you might stumble on a painter or sculptor who genuinely interests you rather than just filling time. The work tends toward contemporary and contemporary craft, which sets it apart from the tourist-trap galleries dotting the seafront. Plan on twenty minutes to an hour depending on what's on and how deep you want to go.

If you're staying at Lands End Camping & Glamping out at Cape Cornwall, Penzance is a straightforward drive and worth combining with a proper walk along the seafront or a pint at one of the decent pubs. The gallery works as a cultural breather on a holiday heavy with beaches and coastal trails. Worth checking their current exhibition before you go - quality varies, but when they get it right, it's a proper discovery.