The Wizard of Whirlaw

The Wizard of Whirlaw is a contemporary art gallery housed in a converted mill building just outside Hebden Bridge, that part of Lancashire where the Pennines start getting properly serious. The space showcases rotating exhibitions of visual art - painting, sculpture, installation work - with a focus on emerging and established artists working across the North West. It's the sort of place where the work genuinely changes, so you won't get the same show twice if you're visiting the area more than once.

Who'll get the most from it? Art-minded types, obviously, but also anyone who wants to escape the Hebden Bridge tourist hubbub for an hour without leaving the area. It's quieter than you'd expect, which is rather the point. Families with teenagers interested in contemporary work will find something to engage with; young children will likely get restless.

The gallery sits well within reach of the excellent camping options nearby. Old Chamber Camping and Hebden Bridge Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite are both highly rated and only a few miles away, making this a natural addition to a walking-focused park holiday in the Calderdale valleys. Hit the gallery on a rainy afternoon, then get back out into the hills when the weather lifts.

Access to the website and admission details can be confirmed with Hebden Bridge tourist information or by ringing ahead - opening hours do vary seasonally. Budget 45 minutes to an hour depending on how engaged you are with the work on display.