caerbladon CIC

Caerbladon CIC is a contemporary art gallery tucked away just outside Malmesbury, in the rolling countryside of North Wiltshire. It's the sort of place you'll miss entirely if you're not looking for it, which probably suits the artists who show here. The space focuses on contemporary work - paintings, installations, sculpture - from emerging and established practitioners, with the kind of thoughtful curation you don't always find in rural venues.

You're looking at a couple of hours maximum here, depending on how long you linger over individual pieces. It's absolutely worth combining with a walk around Malmesbury itself, which is a proper historic town with the Abbey worth seeing. If you're staying at Burton Hill Caravan & Camping Park - which is practically on the doorstep - you could easily pop over of an afternoon. Same goes for Malmesbury Glamping at Whychurch Farm, equally close.

The gallery works best for art enthusiasts and anyone who likes checking out what local artists are producing. It's not a place where kids will spend hours, but teenagers with any interest in contemporary work might surprise you. The space has a genuine community feel rather than corporate slickness, which is either exactly what you're after or not your thing at all.

I'd ring ahead to confirm opening hours before you visit - galleries in smaller towns don't always stick to obvious schedules - and check whether there's an admission charge. Given its CIC status, entry is likely free or nominal, but worth confirming. The setting itself, surrounded by Wiltshire farmland, is half the appeal.