Thought Foundation

You won't find this one on the usual Durham tourist trail, and that's rather the point. The Thought Foundation is a contemporary art gallery tucked away near Stanley, doing serious work with visual culture that tends to make you think twice about what you're looking at. It's not a massive place - expect to spend an hour, maybe 90 minutes if you're the type who reads every label and sits with things for a bit.

The gallery itself programmes rotating exhibitions alongside its core collection, so what you'll see depends entirely on when you visit. Worth checking ahead on their website or giving them a ring, because turning up to find something that doesn't grab you would be annoying. Free entry, which is always welcome.

This works best for adults who actually care about contemporary work - artists, designers, people with opinions about what art should do. Kids might find it dull unless they're already gallery-trained; there's no interactive stuff or hands-on nonsense here. If you're staying at Beamish Holiday Park or the glamping spot nearby, it's close enough for an afternoon outing, though honestly you'd be better off spending that time at Beamish Museum itself if you've got families in tow.

The real value is if you're in the area specifically interested in contemporary practice. Then it's worth the detour from Stanley. Everyone else can probably skip it without missing much.