Time and Tide Bell

A converted Victorian bell tower in Bideford housing rotating contemporary art and installations. The Time and Tide Bell is exactly the sort of thing you stumble upon in a market town and either love immediately or walk straight past. It's fairly small - you're looking at 20 minutes to half an hour rather than a half-day commitment - but it punches above its weight if the current exhibition lands right.

The space itself is the real draw. That tower setting gives every piece a sense of theatre you wouldn't get in a conventional gallery. Light comes through original windows, the acoustics are odd in that charming period-property way, and there's something about climbing to see work in a building this old that makes you actually pay attention rather than drifting through on autopilot.

It's worth timing with a visit to Bideford's high street, which has enough proper independent shops and decent cafes to justify a proper morning out. From here, Braddicks Holiday Park is just 2.6 miles away if you're based in the area, with the camping options at Broad Park and Ocean Pitch slightly further out but still handy for exploring North Devon.

Check opening hours before you go - smaller galleries like this can be a bit ad hoc. Free entry when it's open, which is exactly how you want these things to be. Best on a quiet weekday rather than a Saturday when it can feel cramped. Art types will get more from it than families with young kids looking for a full day's entertainment.