The North Approach Gallery

The North Approach Gallery sits in Elland, a proper working town rather than a tourist trap, which immediately sets the tone for what you'll find inside. It's a contemporary art space that takes itself seriously without the stuffiness you sometimes get in bigger galleries - the kind of place where you might stumble across a local ceramicist's work alongside more established names.

The space itself is worth a look, housed in a building with genuine character rather than some shiny glass box. You're looking at rotating exhibitions, so what's on when you visit depends on timing, but the gallery tends to champion regional artists and emerging talent. It's not the sort of place where you'll spend four hours, but it's absolutely worth ninety minutes if you're passing through or staying nearby.

Art enthusiasts and anyone fed up with the same old commercial galleries will get genuine value here. It's also decent for curious visitors who aren't die-hard art types but fancy something a bit different from the usual tourist round. Families with older kids who can appreciate contemporary work will find it engaging; younger children might get restless quickly.

If you're based at Old Chamber Camping just outside Elland, this is an easy addition to a day out exploring West Yorkshire. Pop in, grab a coffee if they've got one on, and decide whether the current exhibition warrants a longer visit. No pretence, no entry charge nonsense to worry about - just straightforward art in a real place.