Oakington & Westwick

The gallery at Oakington & Westwick sits just outside Cambridge, a converted space that punches above its weight with contemporary work and local art. It's the sort of place you'd stumble into on a lazy afternoon rather than plan a day trip around, but that's rather its charm. The setting is understated - no grand facades or ticketed queues - which means it attracts a genuinely curious crowd rather than coach parties.

What you get depends entirely on what's hung at any given moment, but expect emerging artists and established Cambridgeshire names sharing wall space. The scale is human; you'll spend forty minutes here, not four hours. Families with older kids who actually engage with art will find it refreshing. Younger ones might fidget unless there's something interactive on.

The real value is as a proper alternative to the museums in central Cambridge - and markedly less heaving. If you're staying at one of the campgrounds dotted around the area - Hempsall Farm or Fen End Farm are reasonably close - it's worth a visit between walks through the Fens. Come midweek if you can; weekends draw the college crowd out this way.

Worth checking opening hours before you visit. Admission details aren't widely advertised, so ring ahead. It won't be your highlight, but it's a solid afternoon addition to any Cambridgeshire break, particularly if you're the sort who prefers galleries to gift shops.