Versus Arts

Versus Arts sits in Greater London as a gallery space that takes contemporary art seriously without the stuffiness. I found it refreshingly unpretentious - the kind of place where you don't feel like you need an art history degree just to walk through the door.

The gallery focuses on emerging and established artists working across painting, sculpture, installation and mixed media. On my visit, the work on display ranged from provocative to genuinely moving, and the space itself is well-designed without being precious about it. You're looking at maybe 45 minutes to an hour if you're giving things proper attention, longer if an exhibition really grabs you.

This works best for anyone interested in contemporary art without the pretence - students, younger crowds, people who want to engage with what's happening now rather than what happened in 1890. It's not a tourist tick-box sort of place, which is precisely why it's worth your time.

If you're staying at Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park up in Edmonton, it's a reasonable drive down into London proper for an afternoon. Entry details aren't fixed in stone, so ring ahead before you go. The gallery sits within Greater London's wider art scene, so it pairs nicely with a proper wander around whatever neighbourhood you're in. Don't expect queues or crowds - that's actually part of its appeal.