Heather Art & Exhibits Ltd

The gallery sits just outside Guildford, a proper spot if you're after contemporary art without the stuffiness of somewhere like the Watts Gallery down the road. Heather Art & Exhibits Ltd shows work from emerging and established artists - mostly painting and sculpture, though the exact current programme isn't always easy to track down online. You'll need to ring ahead or check their website for what's on, because opening hours seem to vary and admission details aren't widely published. Figure on an hour or so if you're not mad keen on art, maybe two if you actually want to stand and look properly at things.

It works well as a lunch-break stop if you're staying at Edgeley Holiday Park or Chantry Wood Campsite nearby - both within a few miles - rather than a destination in itself. The surrounding area is decent walking country, and Guildford town centre has enough restaurants and pubs to make an afternoon of it. Families with older kids who can appreciate proper art rather than interactive installations will get more from it than toddlers would. The whole thing feels genuinely local rather than polished, which is either refreshing or a bit rough around the edges depending on your mood. Before you go, definitely ring them to confirm they're open and what's currently on display. You don't want to turn up only to find they've closed for a private event.