Oasthouse Theatre

The Oasthouse Theatre sits in Maidstone's cultural heart, converted from an actual oast house - those distinctive cone-roofed buildings Kent's hop farmers used for drying hops. It's a proper intimate venue, the kind where you can actually see the performer's expressions without binoculars, and the acoustics work because of the building's bones rather than dodgy electrics.

You'll catch theatre, music, comedy, and dance here - local productions mostly, with the occasional touring act. The programme shifts seasonally, so it's worth checking their website before you plan a visit. Admission isn't free, but prices are reasonable for what amounts to proper community theatre done well. Allow a couple of hours for a show plus a drink beforehand if you fancy it.

This works brilliantly if you're basing yourself at Oak View Holiday Park or Kits Coty Glamping - both within striking distance. Families with older kids will get on with it fine, though it's not really set up for the under-tens crowd. It's the sort of place theatre enthusiasts and culture-minded holidaymakers actually enjoy, rather than somewhere you feel obliged to tick off a list.

The venue's small enough that it feels personal without being cramped, and Maidstone itself has decent pubs and restaurants nearby for a proper evening out. Check what's on before you book your accommodation - if there's something you fancy, plan around it.