The Carriageworks

The Carriageworks sits in Leeds as a proper working theatre housed in a converted Victorian building - the kind of place that feels alive the moment you walk through the doors. It's a mid-scale venue that programmes theatre, dance, comedy and live music, so what's on changes constantly and keeps the programme fresh. The converted industrial space has real character, with exposed brick and that slightly rough-around-the-edges feel that independent theatres do so well.

This is for people who actually want to see theatre rather than just tick it off. You'll find experimental work alongside more mainstream productions, which means it attracts serious arts types, families with kids for the right shows, and anyone after a proper night out in Leeds. It's not a massive auditorium - there's an intimacy to it that means you're never miles from the stage.

You'll need to check their website for what's on and ticket prices, as programming shifts seasonally. Allow an evening if you're catching a show, plus time for a drink beforehand in one of the surrounding bars. The venue sits handily for the rest of Leeds, so it works well alongside a park break - Glenfield, Moor Lodge and St Helena's are all within six miles. You could easily base yourselves at one of those and spend an evening at the Carriageworks as part of a Leeds trip without it feeling forced.