Lyric Hammersmith

A beacon of culture in Hammersmith, the Lyric's distinctive look is largely down to a fusion of the building's 1970s structure, the theatre's Victorian heritage and a modern interior. Outgoing artistic director David Farr adds further colour through an experimental schedule: he's courted controversy over explicitly violent children's theatre and took a chance when he invited David Rosenberg of Shunt to present a headphone-assisted voyeuristic production that allowed the audience to spy on actors in the tower block across the square. Risqué material isn't all the Lyric Hammersmith is about however: the theatre presents monologues, improv pieces and comedy. It's also a must-stop for families, featuring one of the most comprehensive kids' theatre programmes in London. And the first-floor restaurant with terrace is very pleasant in the summer.