Van Gallery

An art gallery in a van - which is exactly what it sounds like, and it's rather clever. Van Gallery is a mobile contemporary art space operating somewhere in the Shropshire area around Shrewsbury, though pinning down exactly where requires a bit of detective work since opening hours and locations aren't fixed. It's the sort of thing that appeals to anyone who finds traditional gallery spaces a touch stuffy.

What you're getting is contemporary work displayed in an unconventional setting. The appeal lies partly in the novelty - there's something refreshingly unpretentious about art presented on wheels rather than behind velvet ropes in a converted manor house. Artists benefit from bypassing the gatekeepers; visitors get exposure to work they might otherwise miss. It won't take hours, and that's fine - this isn't the sort of outing you block your entire afternoon for.

If you're staying at one of the nearby parks - Oxon Hall or Love2Stay are closest at just over 2 miles out - it's worth checking their current location before you set out. Ring ahead if you can find a number. Free admission is likely given the format, but confirm that too. History enthusiasts might find it less rewarding than Shrewsbury's museums, and families with young kids could get restless quickly, but anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary art will appreciate the concept. It's different, deliberately so, and that difference is rather the point.