The Harbour Gallery

The Harbour Gallery sits right where you'd expect it - overlooking the water in Truro, with that particular light that makes Cornwall's galleries so addictive. Inside, it's a working artist space rather than some stuffy museum, which means the work changes regularly and you'll often find makers actually there, pottering about among their own pieces.

You're looking at contemporary art, mostly local stuff - paintings, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture. Nothing too experimental or difficult; this is art that speaks to people who've just come off the beach rather than art-school graduates trying to decode meaning. The space itself is intimate without feeling cramped, and there's a proper sense that someone's curated this thoughtfully.

For a gallery visit, allow 45 minutes to an hour. Go on a weekday if you want to chat with the artists - weekends pull in the tourist crowd. It's free to wander in, though they'll hope you'll fancy a piece (prices are reasonable, not London-gallery ridiculous).

The location works brilliantly if you're staying at Trethem Mill Touring Park, just 1.4 miles away. You can combine it with a proper explore of Truro's Georgian streets and the cathedral, then grab lunch at one of the riverside spots. Veryan Camping and Caravanning Club Site, though further out at nearly five miles, puts you close to the stunning Cornish coast as well, so it's easy to mix gallery time with coastal walks. This isn't a headline attraction, but it's exactly the kind of spot that makes a holiday feel less like tourism and more like you've actually found something real.