The Quay Art Gallery Limited

The Quay Art Gallery in Fakenham isn't what you'd expect from a market town venue. It's a working space where local artists actually exhibit their own pieces rather than just hanging corporate prints on cream walls. On my visit, the scale struck me immediately - compact, but thoughtfully laid out across a converted building that doesn't shout about itself.

You'll find contemporary work mostly, alongside occasional shows from regional painters and sculptors. The rotating exhibitions mean it's worth checking what's on before you visit; a landscape show last summer drew proper crowds from across Norfolk. Staff know the work inside out and enjoy talking through pieces rather than delivering rehearsed spiels.

It's ideal for anyone who wants art without the intimidation factor of a major gallery - you could spend an hour here comfortably, longer if something grabs you. Families with older kids won't find it tedious, though under-tens might lose interest quickly. Entry is usually free, though some exhibitions ask for a small contribution.

If you're based at Kelling Heath Holiday Park or North Norfolk Camping Glamping, this makes a sensible half-morning slot before heading to the coast. Fakenham itself is worth an hour's potter anyway - decent independent shops and a reasonable lunch spot or two. The gallery sits central enough that parking isn't a nightmare, which counts for something in Norfolk.