Everyman Cinema

Harrogate's Everyman Cinema is a proper independent picture house - the kind of place that still shows films you actually want to watch rather than just the blockbuster conveyor belt. Housed in what feels like a genuine community space, it's the sort of cinema that programmes everything from art house releases to classic reruns, with the kind of thoughtful curation you'd never get from a multiplex.

The cinema itself is comfortable and unpretentious. There's no sense of having to dress up or feel out of place, which is refreshing. The screens aren't enormous, but that's rather the point - it's about watching good films in decent company rather than getting lost in a sprawl of stadium seating.

This works best for anyone who actually reads film reviews or has strong opinions about what's worth watching. If you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks - Harrogate Caravan Park or Rudding Holiday Park are both within a couple of miles - it's an excellent way to spend an evening, especially if the Yorkshire weather turns damp and you need something to do beyond walking round the town.

Harrogate itself is pleasant enough for a few days, with decent shops and the famous Betty's Tea Rooms if you want to do the proper tourist thing. The Everyman fits neatly into that, as a cultural punctuation mark rather than the main attraction. Check their website for what's on before you visit - programming changes regularly, and you might catch something genuinely good.