Upfront Gallery & Coffee Shop

The coffee's proper good, which matters because you'll want an excuse to linger in this Penrith gallery. Upfront Gallery & Coffee Shop operates as exactly that - a working art space with a café attached, somewhere locals actually go rather than a tourist trap masquerading as culture. The gallery rotates exhibitions of contemporary work, so what's on depends when you visit, but the setup itself is refreshingly unpretentious. You're looking at emerging artists and regional makers, the sort of thing that rewards a proper look rather than a quick walk-through.

It's the kind of spot that works best for adults who actually like galleries, or teenagers who aren't being forced round by their parents. Kids under twelve will tolerate it for about twenty minutes, then the novelty of sitting with a hot chocolate wears thin. Real art enthusiasts might spend an hour here - longer if there's a show they connect with.

Head here on a rainy Lakeland afternoon when the fells are grey and uninspiring. You're five miles from Penrith, close enough to combine with shopping or a proper lunch in town. If you're based at one of the nearby caravan parks - Riverside Tourer or Beckses, both within walking distance - it breaks up a touring day nicely without the heavy lifting of a major museum visit.

Admission details aren't widely publicised, but that's par for the course with smaller independent galleries. Ring ahead before you make the journey. Worth the detour if contemporary art matters to you. Skip it if you're after grand landscapes and famous names.