The Listening Gallery

You step into a converted space and immediately the noise of the world drops away. The Listening Gallery, tucked near Settle in North Yorkshire, is exactly what its name suggests - a place built around sound rather than sight. It's genuinely unusual.

The gallery showcases audio art and sonic installations that range from field recordings to experimental soundscapes. Some pieces are meditative, others properly unsettling. You're encouraged to sit, listen, sometimes wear headphones. It's the opposite of a traditional museum where you're rushing past glass cases.

This works best for adults and older teenagers who can sit quietly without fidgeting for twenty minutes. Children under ten will likely get restless unless they're the contemplative type - there's no interactive play area or loud exhibitions to grab their attention. That said, if you've got a family that enjoys listening to birdsong walks or podcasts together, you might surprise yourself.

Allow 45 minutes to an hour. Settle itself is a proper market town with decent cafes and pubs, so you won't struggle for lunch afterwards. If you're based at one of the nearby glamping spots like Ribblesdale Pods or Malham Glamping Pods, this pairs well with walking in the Dales - gives you a quiet afternoon activity when the weather turns dodgy.

Check opening hours and admission fees before heading over - details online are thin on the ground. It's not a destination in itself, but as part of a Dales holiday, it's a worthwhile hour if experimental sound art appeals to you.