The Wave

The Wave is a contemporary art gallery just outside Chichester that punches well above its weight. It's a working creative space where you can actually watch artists at their benches - no velvet ropes, no pretension, just people making things. The building itself is modern and light-filled, with large windows that flood the studios with natural light, and the gallery spaces show a steady rotation of work by resident artists and visiting exhibitors.

You'll spend anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours here depending on how chatty the artists are feeling and whether any of the pieces actually stop you in your tracks. Don't expect blockbuster contemporary art - this is more intimate, more local, and honestly all the better for it. Sculptors, painters, printmakers, jewellers - the mix changes, which means it's worth returning if you're staying nearby.

It works best for adult art enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys seeing the working side of creative practice. Kids under ten will likely get bored unless they're genuinely into art already. Admission is free, which is brilliant, and it pairs nicely with a walk into Chichester proper if you're based at one of the nearby parks - West Sands Holidays is barely a mile away, or Chichester Lakeside if you want something bigger and more family-focused.

Go on a weekday morning if you can. You'll have the place nearly to yourself and the artists are more likely to chat about their work.