The Tower Arts Centre

The Tower Arts Centre sits in Winchester and functions as the town's main cultural venue - a proper working theatre with a mixed programme of drama, comedy, music and dance. It's the sort of place locals actually use rather than somewhere you'd stumble into by accident.

The building itself is functional rather than fancy, but that's rather the point. You'll find decent-sized productions here alongside smaller touring shows, pantomime in winter, and the occasional film screening. The spaces vary, so a big theatre production won't feel cramped, and an intimate comedy night doesn't echo around an empty barn.

Theatre types and anyone after a proper night out will get the most from it. If you've got kids, check the programme first - there's usually something around school holidays, though it's not specifically geared toward children's entertainment. The venue works well as an evening anchor if you're basing yourself at one of the nearby caravan parks like Hookpit Farm or Winchester Morn Hill - both within a few miles - since Winchester itself is compact enough to walk around before catching a show.

Admission varies by show, naturally. Most productions run two to three hours depending on what's on, so allow extra time for a pre-show meal in Winchester's town centre. Spring and autumn tend to have stronger programming than summer, when venues often go quiet. Check their website or ring ahead to see what's running during your visit - the programme changes regularly and it's worth timing a trip around something that appeals to you.