Susan Entwistle Art Gallery

The Susan Entwistle Art Gallery sits quietly in Nottinghamshire, away from the tourist crush of the city centre. It's a proper working gallery - the kind where you might actually bump into artists mid-conversation rather than shuffle past velvet ropes. The focus is contemporary work, with rotating exhibitions that change regularly enough to keep repeat visits interesting.

What you get here depends entirely on what's showing. Some months it's painting, others sculpture or mixed media. There's no blockbuster permanent collection to tick off, which means the space itself stays intimate and the curators clearly think hard about what goes on the walls. That's refreshing, honestly - far better than galleries that pack every inch.

This works brilliantly for art enthusiasts who actually want to engage with pieces rather than just photograph them. If you're after the big names and major institutions, Nottingham itself has the City Museum and Galleries, but if you prefer something smaller and more conversational, this is worth a detour. You'll need maybe an hour, depending on crowd levels.

If you're staying at Birdholme Glamping or Wolds Wine Estate - both just a few miles away - it makes sense to pop in on your way to or from Nottingham. Pair it with wandering the Lace Market district and you've got a proper cultural afternoon sorted. Check ahead for opening times and what's currently showing, as independent galleries can be particular about their schedules.