Maltings Theatre

The Maltings sits in St Albans doing proper theatre work - the kind of place where you'll catch anything from contemporary drama to comedy nights to the occasional musical. It's a working arts venue, not a museum piece, which means the programme actually changes and keeps locals coming back. The building itself has character without being trying too hard about it. You're looking at a real community theatre operation where the bar does decent coffee and the staff know what they're on about.

Theatre types will find genuine programming here rather than am-dram filler. If you've got teenagers who can sit still, it's a decent outing. Kids' shows do happen seasonally, so worth checking before you assume it's all wine-bar drama. The main draw is that it actually programmes work you might want to see - not every venue can say that.

St Albans is close enough that a theatre visit slots naturally into a broader day out exploring the town itself, which has proper high street shops and some reasonable pubs. If you're staying at Frogmore Park Homes or Cherry Green Trees nearby, it's an easy drive for an evening - the sort of thing that breaks up a park holiday without requiring expedition planning.

You'll need to check their website for what's on and ticket prices, as the programme shifts. Best to book ahead during weekends. Allow a couple of hours for the whole outing including pre-show drink and getting parked.