'Ecliptica' sculpture and weather vane

You'll spot this one the moment you wander down to Swansea's waterfront - a striking sculpture that doubles as a working weather vane, catching the light and the wind in equal measure. Ecliptica is the sort of public art installation that stops you mid-stride, makes you crane your neck, and probably makes you take a photo before you've even worked out what it's meant to be. It's sculptural, it's functional, and it's absolutely free to gawp at.

The piece works best if you're already exploring the Marina area anyway - it's positioned right where locals and visitors naturally drift. Not something to build a day trip around in isolation, but if you're staying at Swansea Marina Tourer Park just up the road, or you've come down to the waterfront for a walk or a meal, it's worth five minutes of your time. Art types will appreciate the engineering; kids might find the weather vane element mildly diverting for about as long as it takes for the wind to shift. The real appeal is context - it's part of Swansea's ongoing effort to make the waterfront feel like somewhere worth lingering, rather than just passing through.

Go at any time, obviously - it's outdoors and always accessible. The Marina is lively on weekends, quieter during the week. Pair it with a proper walk along the seafront or nip into one of the nearby cafes. It's decent enough, but don't pretend it's a destination in itself.