Propellor

Propellor is an art gallery tucked just outside Ipswich that punches above its weight. It's the kind of place that doesn't shout about itself, which means you'll often have the space to yourself - a genuine rarity these days.

The gallery focuses on contemporary work, and the exhibitions rotate regularly enough that there's a reason to go back. The setting itself is part of the appeal: industrial edges softened by natural light, the sort of space that makes you actually want to spend time looking rather than ticking boxes. Artists showing here tend toward the thoughtful end of the spectrum - installations, conceptual pieces, work that makes you reconsider what you're looking at.

It's properly worth the drive from Ipswich if you're staying anywhere in the area. The nearby camping and caravan sites - Priory Park is barely a mile away, and there's Cosy Camping Suffolk and Bucklesham Park within four miles - make it easy enough to slot this into a broader Suffolk break. An hour here is comfortable; two if you want to sit with the work properly.

Practical note: you'll want to check ahead on opening hours and current exhibitions before you visit, as these things change. Some galleries charge, some don't - that's worth confirming too.

Best suited to anyone who actually enjoys looking at art rather than just collecting gallery visits. Kids over about twelve might get something from it, but younger ones might find the pace slow. On a grey Suffolk afternoon, this is exactly where you want to be.