Pyramid

The Pyramid gallery sits just outside Peterborough and punches well above its weight for a contemporary art space in Northamptonshire. It's a working gallery that takes itself seriously - the sort of place where the staff actually know the artists and can tell you something meaningful about what's on the walls rather than just pointing at the price tag.

Inside you'll find rotating exhibitions spanning painting, sculpture, printmaking, and installation work. There's a real emphasis on emerging talent and work that challenges rather than simply decorates, which means some visits will absolutely sing and others might leave you scratching your head. That's rather the point. The building itself has character - nothing pretentious, just honest gallery space where the art gets centre stage.

It works best for adults with a genuine interest in contemporary practice, though families won't feel unwelcome if you've got teenagers keen on art. Allow an hour minimum, though you could spend two if there's a show that grabs you. Opening hours and admission fees vary by exhibition, so it's worth checking ahead before you trek over.

If you're camping at Nene Outdoors or Ferry Meadows just down the road, this makes a cracking afternoon visit to break up the leisure park routine. Peterborough itself has enough cafes and shops to justify a full day out. Rockingham Forest Park over at Landal is nearby too, so you could feasibly combine woodland walks with gallery time.