Three Rivers

Three Rivers is a gallery tucked away near Ingatestone in Essex, and it's one of those spots that rewards you for bothering to look beyond the obvious tourist trail. The space itself is contemporary and unpretentious - no velvet ropes or snobby vibes, just good art displayed properly. What you'll find inside changes depending on the season, though it tends to favour contemporary work and local artists, which means you're not trudging through the same old masters you've seen everywhere else.

It's worth a look if you're the type who actually enjoys wandering round galleries rather than ticking them off a list. The work on show tends to spark genuine conversation rather than head-scratching confusion. Families with older kids who aren't fidgety will find it manageable - plan for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you want to spend reading the artist notes. Younger children might lose interest fairly quickly, to be honest.

The real value here is as part of a broader day out in the area. If you're camped at The Courts Campsite or Stuarts Wood just down the road, it's an easy trip into Ingatestone and worth combining with a walk round the town's high street or a bite at one of the local cafes. It's not going to be the highlight of your holiday, but it's the sort of cultural top-up that makes a park break feel less like you've entirely left civilisation behind.