Frank Matcham

Frank Matcham was one of Britain's most prolific theatre architects, and tracking down his work near Lee-on-the-Solent gives you a real sense of how theatre design shaped communities across the country. He built over 150 theatres between the 1880s and 1920s - proper Victorian and Edwardian showmen's spaces with ornate plasterwork and sweeping balconies that made audiences feel special just walking through the doors.

The thing about Matcham is that his buildings still stand in towns across Hampshire and beyond, though many have been converted or lie dormant. If you're interested in architectural history or theatre heritage, it's worth seeking out what remains locally - though I'll be honest, visiting a Matcham site isn't always straightforward. Some theatres are still working venues you can visit during shows; others are now bingo halls or offices, so what you actually see depends entirely on what's open to the public at any given time.

Historically minded visitors will get the most from this. Kids won't find much to do beyond looking at facades unless there's a performance on. The nearest towns - Lee-on-the-Solent itself and nearby Gosport - have visitor information centres that can point you toward accessible Matcham buildings in the area.

If you're caravan-based at Kingfisher Caravan Park or Mill Rythe Coastal Village, a spot of architectural detective work makes a decent half-day activity between beach trips. Check ahead what's actually open, though - that's the critical bit.