Charles Phillips & Sons Ltd,

Charles Phillips & Sons Ltd is a working gallery just outside Musselburgh where you can actually watch craftspeople at it rather than stare at finished pieces behind glass. It's the sort of place that appeals to anyone who cares about how things are made - proper fascinating if you're into textiles, ceramics, or whatever medium they're showing that week.

The setup is refreshingly honest. You're wandering through a working studio space, not a sanitised white-cube gallery, so expect sawdust on the floor and artists who might chat to you about their process. It works particularly well for families with older children who can appreciate the craft involved without needing constant entertainment, though younger kids will lose interest fast.

Timing-wise, allow an hour maximum unless you're genuinely keen on the specific work on display. There's no point lingering just for the sake of it. The real value is catching a maker mid-project and understanding their decisions.

Geographically it's spot-on if you're staying at Drummohr Camping & Glamping Site just down the road - less than half a mile away, which makes it an easy afternoon visit. Haven Seton Sands is also close enough for a detour. Pair it with a walk through Musselburgh itself or a longer ramble along the coast, and you've got a decent day out. Go midweek if you can; weekends get busier and defeat the point of seeing actual work happening.