Metro Cinema

The Metro Cinema sits in Borehamwood, that film studio town where half the British television output seems to get made. It's a proper old-school picture house - the kind where you can still catch a film without the layers of corporate nonsense that come with the multiplexes. The place has character, proper red velvet seats and the sort of venue that actually makes you want to dress up a bit for the cinema.

You'll find it appeals most to anyone who remembers what going to the pictures actually meant - locals who've been coming here for years, film enthusiasts after something with more soul than a shopping centre complex, and families after a straightforward night out without a fifteen-quid bucket of popcorn. The screen size and sound system won't compete with the big chains, but that's rather missing the point.

Since details on current opening hours and ticket prices aren't readily available online, you'll want to ring ahead or check their social media before planning your visit. Allow about two hours from arrival to leaving. The surrounding area offers Aldenham Country Park just over four miles away - decent green space if you want to stretch your legs before or after the film. Home Farm Glamping and the various residential parks nearby mean you could easily base yourself here for a few days and combine it with proper countryside walks.