Belgrade Theatre

The Belgrade Theatre sits right in Coventry's city centre, a proper cultural anchor that's been going strong since 1964. It's a working theatre - proper theatre, not a heritage visitor attraction - so what you get depends entirely on what's on. The building itself is functional rather than fancy, but that's never bothered the serious theatre-goers who pack it out for everything from classic drama to contemporary productions.

Inside you'll find two performance spaces: the main theatre and a smaller studio space for more experimental work. The programming tends toward the thoughtful rather than the crowd-pleasing, though they do put on family shows during school holidays. It's the sort of place where you go for the performance, not the building itself. Adults who actually like live theatre will get the most from it; younger kids might struggle through a three-hour play, but they've got plenty of daytime matinees aimed specifically at families.

It's free to wander in and check the foyer, but you'll pay for tickets if something catches your eye - prices vary wildly depending on the show. Allow a couple of hours if you're catching a performance. If you're staying at Hollyfast Caravan Park just three miles out, the Belgrade makes an excellent evening out after a day exploring Coventry. The city's got decent restaurants nearby if you want to make a proper night of it.