Leas Cliff Hall

The clifftop theatre that dominates Folkestone's seafront is impossible to miss - a proper Victorian structure perched right on the edge with views across the Channel. Leas Cliff Hall hosts everything from tribute acts to pantomime, amateur productions to the occasional touring show. It's the sort of place where you'll catch a summer concert one week and a dinner theatre the next.

The venue itself is the main draw rather than the building's interiors, which are functional rather than fancy. What matters is the location. You're sitting in a theatre that juts out over the cliffs, and on a clear day you'll see France. The acoustics are decent enough, though some seats have better sightlines than others - worth checking before you buy.

Theatre-goers and music fans will find regular programming worth browsing, and it's genuinely worth checking what's on if you're basing yourselves at Varne Ridge Holiday Park or Black Horse Farm just down the road. Families with kids will find pantomime season particularly lively. Allow a couple of hours for a show plus pre-performance drinks if you're making an evening of it.

Folkestone itself has had a proper revival in recent years - the harbour's excellent, there's decent shopping on the high street, and the seafront walk either direction from here is cracking. Catch a matinee and you've got the afternoon free to explore. Check their website for current programming and ticket prices before you visit.