Nicola Roo

Nicola Roo is a contemporary art gallery tucked into Shropshire's landscape, just a short drive from Shrewsbury. What you'll find here depends entirely on what's on - this is a working studio and exhibition space that shows rotating work rather than a permanent collection. The space itself has that studio feel: intimate, a bit rough around the edges, the kind of place where you can actually talk to artists if you catch them working.

It's worth a stop if you're genuinely interested in modern art and don't mind a bit of hunting around. This isn't a rainy-day family activity with gift shops and cafes - it's for people who actually want to look at work. Allow an hour, maybe less depending on what's showing. The nearest town is Shrewsbury, which has enough going on that you won't be stuck if the gallery doesn't grab you.

If you're parked up at Love2Stay or Oxon Hall, both just a couple of miles away, it's an easy detour on a decent weather day. The real draw for a park holiday in this area is walking - Shropshire's got proper countryside - but if you want an hour of culture without the usual gallery stuffiness, this scratches that itch. Ring ahead before you visit to check what's on and if it's open; these spaces can keep odd hours.