Colchester Arts Centre

The Arts Centre sits right in Colchester town centre and functions as the area's main cultural hub. Inside you'll find galleries showing contemporary work, a theatre hosting everything from comedy nights to dance performances, and a cinema running mainstream and independent films. There's also a decent café if you need coffee and cake between browsing exhibitions.

It's genuinely worth a couple of hours if you're passing through Colchester on a rainy afternoon or want to catch a specific show. The programme changes regularly, so check what's on before you go - sometimes there's nothing that grabs you, other times there are proper interesting exhibitions. Families with older kids will get more from it than those with toddlers, though children's theatre does pop up seasonally.

Admission to galleries is typically free, though some special exhibitions charge entry. Theatre and cinema tickets cost the usual amount - nothing outrageous. Allow 90 minutes for a gallery browse, longer if a particular show catches your eye. The café is better than you'd expect for a regional arts centre.

If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Colchester Country Park is the closest at just over a mile away - the Arts Centre makes for a good indoor option when the weather turns. It's an easy walk or short drive from Ardleigh Caravan & Camping Park too. Nothing revolutionary, but solid enough for what Colchester offers culturally.