London

The forward-thinking Battersea Arts Centre, which inhabits the old Battersea Town Hall, has become synonymous with experimental theatre. It's where you'll find innovative companies and new writers cutting their teeth (BAC was where the National Theatre unearthed 'Jerry Springer the Opera') and site-specific companies such as Punchdrunk and Kneehigh presenting groundbreaking work. As well as theatre, spoken word, excellent comedy bills and music events, BAC also holds vintage fashion sales and, if you're lucky, you can catch impromptu performances by one of its many resident theatre groups in the cosy bar. The fringe venue's eclectic outlook has clearly helped it consolidate its place in the heart of its Clapham/Battersea community, bouncing back from dark episodes in its history, in particular its threatened closure due to limited council funding, with the help of intense local support.