The Family

The Family gallery sits just outside Ringwood, a proper contemporary art space that punches above its weight for a place this size. It's the sort of venue that shows work you wouldn't expect to find in rural Dorset - serious stuff alongside more accessible pieces, rotating exhibitions that keep regulars coming back. The building itself has that stripped-back gallery aesthetic: white walls, good light, room to breathe. You're looking at somewhere between one and two hours to get through everything properly, though you can dash round in 45 minutes if you're pressed.

Who gets the most from it? Anyone with even a passing interest in contemporary work, really, but especially if you're staying in the area and fancy a cultural break between walks and forest time. It won't grip five-year-olds for long, but teenagers keen on art will find it worthwhile. Families based at Oakdene Forest Park or Forest Edge - both just a couple of miles away - could easily slot this into an afternoon between park activities and dinner.

The real value here is location. You're close enough to Ringwood's high street for lunch or a browse, and the New Forest sprawls around this whole area, so it works as a proper pit stop rather than a destination in itself. The admission situation and exact opening hours aren't entirely clear from a distance, so phone ahead or check their site before you drive out. Worth doing if you're in the area and need to get out of the New Forest for an hour, though don't expect it to rival what you'd find in Dorchester or beyond.