Walker Galleries

Walker Galleries sits right in Harrogate's town centre, which makes it an easy call if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Harrogate Caravan Park or Rudding Holiday Park. It's a proper contemporary art space - the sort of place you pop into for an hour or so between coffee and lunch rather than plan your whole day around.

The gallery focuses on modern and contemporary work, with rotating exhibitions that change throughout the year. You'll find paintings, sculptures, prints and occasionally installations - nothing too challenging for a casual visit, but enough to make you think a bit. It's the kind of spot where locals actually know what's on rather than somewhere that relies on tourist footfall.

The real draw here is that it's free entry and unpretentious. No velvet ropes or intimidating vibes. If you're self-catering in one of the nearby parks and fancy a bit of culture without the faff of driving miles to somewhere grander, this does the job. The staff tend to know what they're talking about if you ask questions.

Couples will appreciate it more than families with young kids - there's not much to keep under-tens entertained. Walkers heading into the Stray or towards Knaresborough might squeeze it in on a rainy afternoon. Allow 45 minutes to an hour, longer if there's an exhibition that grabs you. Ring ahead to check current opening hours before you visit - galleries in smaller towns can have quirky schedules.