Riverside Studios

You'll find Riverside Studios tucked into a converted Victorian warehouse on the banks of the Thames in Hammersmith, west London. It's a working arts venue - theatre, dance, film, visual art - so what you see depends entirely on what's on when you visit. On a good day, it's genuinely worth stopping by; on others, you might just wander through the foyer and move on.

The building itself is the real draw. There's something satisfying about the raw brick and industrial bones, the sense that this is a proper working creative space rather than some polished cultural institution. You can usually grab a coffee and watch the river flow past from the bar area, which beats most London tourist spots for actual atmosphere.

It's ideal if you're interested in contemporary performance - theatre types, dance enthusiasts, anyone after something more experimental than the West End. Families with older kids might enjoy it if there's a show on, but little ones will get restless fast. Allow an hour if you're just having a look around; longer if you're catching a performance.

Since it's in Hammersmith, it works well as part of a wider London exploration rather than a dedicated park holiday destination. That said, Lovat Parks sits just 3.5 miles away, making it feasible if you're staying nearby and fancy a cultural evening out. Check their programme ahead - some shows are genuinely brilliant, others less so.