Old Fire Station Gallery

The Old Fire Station in Henley-on-Thames has been given a proper second life as a contemporary arts centre. It's a working gallery space housed in what was, until fairly recently, an actual fire station - you can still feel that civic purposefulness in the bones of the building. The space shows rotating exhibitions of visual art, craft, and design work, often with a focus on emerging artists and regional makers.

What makes it worthwhile is the scale. It's intimate rather than grand, which means you're not trudging through endless rooms. Most people spend 45 minutes to an hour here, which fits neatly into a morning or afternoon. The setting right in Henley means you can combine it with a walk along the Thames or a pub lunch without much faffing about.

It appeals most to people who care about contemporary art and craft - not the blockbuster gallery crowd, but those who genuinely want to see what's being made locally. If you're camped at Swiss Farm or Henley Four Oaks, both within walking distance, it's the sort of place worth dropping into rather than planning your whole day around.

Admission is usually free or a small donation, though it's worth checking ahead as exhibitions change. There's no formal café, so grab something in town. The real charm here is that it's unpretentious - no velvet ropes, no fussiness, just good art in an interesting old building.