The Reading Room Gallery

The Reading Room Gallery sits right in Whitby, housed in what was once a proper Victorian reading room - the sort of place where locals would have gathered to leaf through newspapers and escape the North Sea wind. It's a modest space, which is rather the point. You'll find contemporary art and local work on rotation, nothing too demanding, the kind of gallery where you can spend twenty minutes or two hours depending on what's on.

It works best for art types and anyone staying nearby who fancies a cultural breather between coastal walks. If your kids are expecting interactive installations and gift shop tat, they'll be disappointed. But if you've got teenagers with actual taste, or you're the sort who likes discovering what local artists are making, it's worth popping in.

The real beauty is its location. You're steps from Whitby's harbour, the abbey, and the fish and chip shops that matter. If you're based at Whitby Cliff Top Touring Park - which is excellent, by the way, right on the edge of town - this is an easy stroll before breakfast or after lunch. Combine it with a proper wander through the cobbled streets and you've got yourself a solid morning sorted.

I'd ring ahead or check their social media for current opening times and what's showing, because these smaller galleries can be a bit fluid with their schedules. Free entry, almost certainly, but worth a small donation if something moves you.