Curzon Richmond

The Curzon in Richmond is a proper independent cinema - the kind of place where you'll actually find something worth watching rather than just the blockbuster juggernauts. It's housed in a converted Victorian building on Hill Street, all exposed brick and that slightly worn-in feel that comes from decades of film fans filing through the doors.

You get a mix of art house releases, foreign films, documentaries and the occasional mainstream title that's slipped through the net. The screens are intimate rather than cavernous, which means no squinting at subtitles from three rows back. The staff know what they're talking about, which makes a genuine difference when you're trying to decide between films.

Film lovers and anyone tired of multiplexes will genuinely enjoy an afternoon here. It's worth timing a visit around something specific rather than just dropping by - check their programme online first. Admission varies depending on what's showing, and you can buy tickets ahead to avoid disappointment on smaller releases.

Richmond itself is lovely for a day out beyond the cinema - there's the riverside walks, the town's decent restaurants, and it's all fairly accessible. If you're staying at Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site, just five and a half miles away, a trip into Richmond for an evening film is a solid plan. Pair it with dinner and you've got yourself a proper night out that doesn't feel like every other town in England.