The Old School Art Gallery & Craft Centre

Richmond's converted schoolhouse feels like the sort of place where locals actually spend their afternoons, not tourists ticking boxes. The Old School Art Gallery occupies a proper period building - the kind with high ceilings and tall sash windows that let in decent light for viewing work. You'll find rotating exhibitions of regional artists and craftspeople selling pieces rather than prints, which means the standard varies, but that's half the charm.

The craft centre side is where it gets interesting. Local makers use the studio spaces, so you genuinely might watch someone working - woodturners, jewellers, textile artists. It's not slick. It's not trying to be Tate Modern. It's a working creative space that happens to welcome visitors.

Allow a solid hour if you're browsing everything, less if you're just curious about what's on. The real value here is mixing it with independent shops and cafes on Richmond's High Street afterwards - this place sits well within a broader wander around town rather than as a standalone destination.

Stay at Usha Gap Farm & Campsite, barely half a mile away, and you're perfectly placed for exploring Richmond without the drive back. It's the sort of gallery that works brilliantly for artists and craft enthusiasts, reasonably interesting for families with older kids, and frankly skippable if you're after blockbuster exhibitions. Wensleydale and the limestone dales are minutes away - use this as your cultural pit stop while based out here.