Wishing Fish Clock

The Wishing Fish Clock sits inside Regent Arcade in Cheltenham town centre, and it's one of those things locals point out to visitors without quite being able to explain why it matters. It's an art installation, basically - a clock decorated with fish imagery that manages to be both quirky and oddly compelling in the way British public art sometimes is. You'll find it while browsing the shops, not as a destination in itself, which is probably the right way to experience it anyway.

It works best if you're already in Cheltenham proper, perhaps on a rainy afternoon when you've ducked into the arcade to escape the weather. Kids might find the fish detail worth a closer look, though it won't keep them entertained for more than five minutes. The real appeal is that peculiar British charm of stumbling across something unexpected in a shopping arcade - the kind of thing that sticks in your memory more than it probably deserves to.

Since it's free and indoors, it costs nothing to have a look while you're doing your high street shopping. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Cheltenham Racecourse Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite just over a mile away, or opting for glamping at places like Big Skies in the Cotswolds, Cheltenham town centre is an easy stop-off. Don't go out of your way for it, but don't miss it if you're in the area. It's the sort of small, slightly odd thing that makes a holiday memorable.