Coolibah Open Studio

You won't find Coolibah Open Studio tucked away on the high street of Saxmundham - it's out in proper Suffolk countryside, and that's rather the point. This is a working artist's studio that opens its doors to visitors, letting you see how things actually get made rather than just gawping at finished pieces on a gallery wall.

The studio itself doubles as exhibition space, so you're looking at whatever the resident artist is working on at that moment. Some visits you'll catch paintings mid-progress, others finished pieces ready for sale. It's intimate in a way that city galleries simply aren't - you can ask questions, chat about technique, maybe even watch someone at work if you time it right.

This works best for anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary art rather than school-run day-trippers. If your kids are dragging their feet after five minutes in a conventional gallery, they'll feel the same here, possibly more so. But if you've got adults who actually want to know how things are made, or artists themselves keen to see a peer's practice, you'll find it rewarding.

The surrounding area is dotted with caravan parks - Mill Hill Farm is closest at less than two miles away, while Carlton Meres and Birds and Bees sit within a few miles too. Call ahead to check opening hours and admission costs before driving out, and allow an hour including chat time. It's the sort of stop that makes sense if you're already exploring the Suffolk coast rather than a destination in itself.