Sea Sky Design

Sea Sky Design is a gallery just outside Southampton that focuses on contemporary art and design work. It's the sort of place where you can spend anything from forty minutes to a couple of hours depending on what's on and how long you linger over the pieces. The space itself is clean and thoughtfully laid out - no crowded chaos, which is refreshing.

This one's best suited to art enthusiasts and anyone after a quiet afternoon away from the seafront tourist crowds. If your kids are the fidgety type, they'll probably find it a bit slow. But if you've got teenagers with a genuine interest in modern design, or you're the sort of person who likes to think about what you're looking at, it's worth the trip from Southampton.

You're close enough to the caravan parks dotted around here - Mercury Holiday Park is barely half a mile away, Bell Tent Glamping just over a mile - that it makes sense to slot this in as part of a wider day out rather than a solo pilgrimage. Pair it with a walk along Lepe Beach if the weather's decent, or a proper browse around Southampton's maritime museums if you fancy something with more historical weight.

The main frustration is finding solid information about opening times and admission beforehand - best to ring ahead or check their social media before you travel. Worth doing if you're in the area and need something a bit different from the usual seaside attractions.