The Otherworld Gallery

The Otherworld Gallery sits in Buckinghamshire as a proper showcase for contemporary art that won't leave you feeling like you've wandered into someone's pretentious fever dream. It's a working gallery space - the kind where actual artists make and exhibit their work - rather than a sterile white cube devoted to sculpture made from recycled shopping trolleys.

What you get depends entirely on what's on when you visit, which means it rewards a bit of forward planning. The exhibition schedule tends to feature painting, sculpture, and mixed media work from both established and emerging artists. It's not vast - you can work through the space in an hour or so without rushing - which is actually refreshing. You won't find yourself trudging through endless rooms wondering if your feet will ever forgive you.

This works best for anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary art rather than those looking for a casual distraction. Kids might find an hour interesting if something visual is on, but it's not really a "let them run around" kind of venue. Worth combining with a wider loop around Buckinghamshire if you're staying at Embers Camping near Claydon - the area has decent walking and some solid pubs once you've had your culture fix.

Check what's showing before you make the trip. There's nothing worse than arriving to find the gallery between exhibitions, though that does give you an excuse to explore Buckingham's high street instead.