1 Dunbards

The gallery space at 1 Dunbards sits right on the edge of Southminster, a proper working town rather than some overhauled tourist trap. It's a small operation - the kind of place you stumble into thinking you'll stay twenty minutes and end up lingering for hours, depending on what's on.

What you're looking at is contemporary art in a converted building that still feels like it belongs to the community. Local artists tend to feature heavily, which means the work has a genuine connection to the area rather than being parachuted in from London galleries. The space itself is intimate - no queuing, no crowds, no gift shop trying to sell you a £18 catalogue.

It works brilliantly if you're staying at Eastland Meadows right next door - literally a two-minute walk - or basing yourself at any of the holiday parks dotted around West Mersea and Mersea Island. After a morning on the beach or a walk through the marshes, ducking into the gallery breaks up the day nicely. Won't take you more than an hour unless there's something that really grabs you.

Worth phoning ahead before you go - opening hours aren't exactly splashed across the internet, and what's on changes regularly. The admission situation is similarly vague, though most local galleries like this tend toward a small donation or free entry. It's the kind of place that rewards wandering. Not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're after something quieter than the standard seaside fare, it's worth the detour from your caravan.