the Design Museum

The Design Museum sits in Kensington, a converted 1960s Commonwealth Institute building that's rather lovely to look at in itself. Inside you'll find exhibitions rotating through product design, fashion, graphics - the stuff that shapes how we actually live rather than dusty old artefacts behind glass. I spent a good three hours there last summer without feeling rushed, though you could do it in ninety minutes if you're selective.

It works best for design-minded adults and teenagers with a genuine interest in how things get made. A ten-year-old might engage with certain exhibitions, but this isn't a hands-on playground. Families staying at Lovat Parks - just over two miles away - could make it a half-day trip when the weather turns dodgy, though you'd be better off at the V&A or Natural History Museum if you've got younger kids expecting interactive bits.

Admission varies depending on what's on, but permanent collection access costs around £18 last I checked. Pop in midweek morning if possible; weekends get rammed with school groups and tourists. The café is decent for a break, better than the museum restaurant prices you get elsewhere.

Best for: serious design enthusiasts, adults who like thinking about product development, teenagers into fashion or graphics. Worth a detour if design matters to you; skip it if you're just ticking boxes.