Anima Mundi

The moment you step into Anima Mundi, you're confronted with work that doesn't apologize for itself. This gallery sits in St Ives - that already crowded corner of Cornwall where every other building claims to be an art space - but this one actually warrants the trip.

It's contemporary art with real bite. The collection leans into work that makes you think rather than just photograph, which is refreshing given the Instagram saturation round here. Sculpture, painting, installation work that shifts depending on the light and your mood. You'll spend a proper hour in there if you engage with it; forty minutes if you're just browsing.

Families with teenagers who aren't completely allergic to galleries will find it manageable - it's not enormous, so no one gets that glazed "when can we leave" expression after thirty seconds. Younger kids might struggle with the conceptual stuff, though. Art enthusiasts and anyone interested in what's happening in contemporary British practice will get more from it than casual tourists.

If you're based at Polmanter Touring Park or Haven Riviere Sands just outside St Ives, it's essentially on your doorstep - a short walk into town. Pair it with the coastal path, a decent lunch at one of the harbourside spots, and you've got a solid morning sorted. It's not your standard seaside attraction, but then St Ives doesn't do standard particularly well anymore. Go in without expectations and you'll likely come out surprised.