The Fishslab Gallery

The Fishslab Gallery is exactly what the name suggests - a proper working fish shop that doubles as an art space in Whitstable, the kind of setup that could only exist in a seaside town with enough creative confidence to pull it off. Walk in expecting oysters and you'll find contemporary art hanging between the ice displays and fresh catch. It's unpretentious and genuinely odd in the best way.

The space itself is small and intimate, which means you won't spend hours here - thirty minutes to an hour is realistic, depending on what's on and how chatty the staff are feeling. Most people who get the most out of it are those who appreciate the collision between high art and everyday coastal life. If you're after something that takes itself seriously, this isn't it. If you like discovering places that are a bit cheeky and full of character, you'll find it refreshing.

It's free to wander in and have a look around, though expect the staff to be selling fish as much as talking about the work on the walls. There's no formal opening hours listed online, so it pays to call ahead before making the trip. Whitstable itself is brilliant for a seaside break - grab lunch at one of the seafront cafes, walk along the shingle, then head to nearby Seasalter Holiday Park or Seaview Holiday Park if you're staying a few nights. The gallery works best as a thirty-minute detour rather than a planned destination, but that's precisely what makes it worth finding.