West Downs Art Gallery

The West Downs Art Gallery sits on the outskirts of Winchester, a proper little space that punches above its weight. You're looking at contemporary work mostly - rotating exhibitions that actually feel curated rather than just thrown together, which is refreshing. The building itself is understated, nothing fancy, but that's rather the point. Inside, the light is excellent and the flow works well enough that you don't feel herded around.

It's brilliant for anyone who wants to engage with actual artists' practice without the stuffiness of the big institutions. Families with older kids who have some patience will get something out of it; younger children might find an hour is plenty. The crowd's usually thin, so if you're escaping a heaving museum on a bank holiday, this is your answer.

Based in Winchester, you're well-positioned for a caravan holiday in the area. Holden Farm Camping & Cafe (5.9 miles away) is genuinely excellent and includes a proper cafe, so you can base yourself there and make Winchester your cultural pit stop. The other sites - Hookpit Farm and Winchester Morn Hill - are closer but rated lower if creature comforts matter to you.

Allow an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you want to sit with something. Entry details and current exhibitions aren't confirmed here, so ring ahead or check locally once you've arrived. Winchester's centre is walkable, so you could easily pair this with the cathedral or a wander round the High Street.