Sidney Sime Gallery

The work of Sidney Sime hangs in this small gallery just outside Guildford, and it's worth tracking down if you're into early 20th-century illustration and fantasy art. Sime was a Scottish artist who created extraordinary pen-and-ink drawings - moody, intricate stuff that feels properly otherworldly. Think Victorian Gothic meets something altogether stranger.

You'll spend anything from 45 minutes to two hours here depending on how closely you examine the pieces. The gallery isn't massive, but that's actually part of its appeal - it feels intimate rather than exhausting. Sime's work rewards close looking; the detail in his monsters and haunted landscapes is genuinely impressive.

Historically minded visitors will get more from this than casual browsers, and anyone with an interest in illustration or the weird fiction tradition will find it compelling. Kids might find it a bit dark and slow-paced, though teenagers obsessed with fantasy could well enjoy it.

It's positioned nicely as a rainy-day stop if you're staying at Chapel Farm Park or Chantry Wood Campsite nearby. Neither is far away, so you could easily combine it with the countryside walks around Guildford. You'll want to check opening hours before you visit - details aren't readily available online - but it's worth a phone call ahead.