Arts Picturehouse

The Arts Picturehouse sits in the heart of Cambridge, a proper independent cinema that actually shows films worth watching rather than just the blockbuster parade. You'll find foreign language films, documentaries, and smaller releases alongside the occasional mainstream title - the kind of place where you might stumble into something you'd never have chosen yourself and end up loving it.

It's a single-screen operation, intimate without being cramped, with decent seating and the sort of crowd who actually watches films rather than just using it as a date backdrop. The food and drink offerings are standard cinema fare, though slightly less aggressive on the markup than the multiplexes. Arrive early if you're going to a popular showing - the screen fills up quickly, especially for anything with a bit of buzz.

Who benefits most? Film enthusiasts, clearly, but also anyone staying at the nearby caravan sites around Cambridge - Cherry Hinton is barely two miles away - who fancies an evening out that doesn't involve another pub. Families with older kids (under-tens might find some choices slow) will appreciate the programming that respects their intelligence.

Check their website for what's on and ticket prices before you go. Allow an hour and a half from arrival to curtain-up. If you're based at Highfield Farm or Gayton Farm for a few nights, this is a proper reason to head into Cambridge town centre after a day outdoors. Worth the short drive, genuinely.