Kings Theatre

The Kings Theatre sits bang in the middle of Newmarket, a venue that punches well above its weight for a town of this size. It's a proper working theatre - the kind where you get actual live performances rather than touring productions on a circuit. The building itself has character, the sort of place where you can feel decades of audiences filing through the doors.

You'll find everything from amateur dramatics and local repertory productions to touring shows and comedy nights. It's not the West End, and it doesn't pretend to be. That's rather the point. The programming tends toward accessible theatre - family shows, pantomime in winter, the sort of thing that gets proper laughs from people who've been waiting all year for a night out.

Historically minded visitors will find it interesting enough as a snapshot of Victorian and Edwardian theatre culture, though it's the atmosphere rather than architectural grandeur that wins you over. Kids get a kick out of a proper theatre experience without the London prices or the hustle.

If you're staying at Piggles Retreat, a few miles out, the Kings makes for a proper evening in town - combine it with a wander round Newmarket's horse racing heritage or a meal at one of the better local spots. Allow a couple of hours including pre-show drinks. Check their website for what's on before you book; programming varies considerably season to season.