Hartlepool Art Gallery and Tourist Information Centre

The Art Gallery sits bang in the town centre, sharing space with the Tourist Information Centre - which means you can grab maps and local advice without hunting round for a separate office. Inside, the collection swings between contemporary work and pieces with proper local connections, though I'll be honest, it's not going to eat up your whole afternoon. Plan for an hour, maybe ninety minutes if you're genuinely interested in what's on.

It's free to get in, which takes the sting out of visiting on a damp Tuesday. Families with older kids will find it worthwhile, especially if there's a touring exhibition on - the programme does vary. Walkers and history types might appreciate the local angle, seeing how artists have responded to Hartlepool's maritime heritage and industrial past. Younger children could find it a bit thin on engagement unless there's something interactive running.

As part of a holiday at Parkdean Resorts Crimdon Dene - about four miles south - it's a useful rainy-day stop rather than a reason to base yourself here. The gallery acts as a proper gateway to understanding what Hartlepool actually is beyond the seafront, which isn't nothing. Opening hours are reasonable: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm, Sunday from 2pm. It's the kind of place you'd slip into while you're picking up leaflets about other attractions in the area. Honest verdict: worth an hour if you're staying locally, but don't plan your trip around it.