Sundial

The Sundial gallery sits just outside Hatfield, a proper spot for anyone after contemporary art without the stuffiness of bigger institutions. It's a working gallery space rather than a grand affair - think smaller exhibitions rotating through the year, with a genuine focus on emerging artists and experimental work that doesn't always fit the commercial circuit.

You'll spend anything from forty minutes to two hours here depending on what's on and how much you engage with the pieces. The setting matters too; it's the kind of place that rewards a slow wander rather than a quick tick-off. The staff actually know their stuff and won't leave you standing about feeling lost, which is more than you can say for some galleries.

It works brilliantly if you're based at one of the nearby parks - Marshmoor Crescent is barely a mile away, or Commons Wood if you're in a caravan. Perfect for a morning visit before heading elsewhere in Hertfordshire, or if you're genuinely interested in contemporary art and want something off the usual museum trail. Not for families with restless kids, honestly. If you've got teenagers who actually care about art, different story entirely.

Best bet is ringing ahead to check what's on and current opening hours - gallery schedules can be a bit fluid - then building it into a broader Hatfield morning. Worth the detour if contemporary work appeals; otherwise, probably not your stop.