Trestle Arts Base

Trestle Arts Base sits just outside St Albans and is one of those places that doesn't shout about itself but absolutely deserves a visit if you're into theatre that takes proper risks. It's a working creative space where you'll find everything from experimental productions to community workshops happening in converted barns and studios - the kind of venue where you genuinely don't know what you're going to walk into, which is either thrilling or mildly terrifying depending on your appetite for the unconventional.

The company has built a real reputation for physical theatre and devised work, so if you're the sort who finds mainstream West End fare a bit safe, this is where to come. They run performances throughout the year, plus artist residencies and participatory events. Families with older kids (teenage and up) will get far more from it than those with little ones in tow - this isn't pantomime territory.

You'll want to check their website for what's actually on when you visit, as the programme changes regularly and there aren't guaranteed performances every week. It's free to wander the grounds and studios, though tickets for shows vary depending on what you're seeing. Allow a couple of hours if you're catching a performance, less if you're just exploring.

If you're staying at Cherry Green Trees or Commons Wood up the road, Trestle makes a genuinely different evening out compared to the usual park entertainment. St Albans itself is a proper market town worth a mooch around, so you could easily build a day around the two.