The Wildman Gallery

The Wildman Gallery sits inside Kendal College in central Cumbria, showing contemporary art and craft work from local and regional artists. It's a working exhibition space rather than a grand museum - think smaller, more intimate, the kind of place where you might actually bump into someone installing a show. Admission is free, which takes the pressure off if you're just passing through town.

You'll find everything from painting and sculpture to textile work and photography, though the programme rotates regularly. Most people spend 30 minutes to an hour here depending on how engaged you get with the pieces. It's the sort of gallery that appeals to art types and anyone curious about what Cumbrian artists are working on right now - less relevant if you're after blockbuster exhibitions or school-holiday activities.

If you're camping at Kendal Camping and Caravanning Club Site just over a mile away, the gallery makes a solid wet-weather option or a Tuesday-morning break from park life. It's also handy if you're based at The Ashes or Windermere Camping sites and want to explore Kendal town itself beyond the outdoor shops and tourist cafes. Worth checking their opening hours before you visit - college buildings keep their own schedule - but the free entry means you lose nothing by trying.