V&A East Storehouse

The V&A's East London outpost is still finding its feet, but it's worth knowing about if you're camping nearby at Lee Valley. Housed in a Victorian warehouse in Stratford, the Storehouse functions partly as a working conservation space - you can actually watch staff restoring textiles and objects behind glass. It's not the polished South Kensington experience. Think more industrial, more honest.

What you get is access to the V&A's vast collection without the crowds. They rotate exhibitions regularly, so there's genuine variety depending on when you visit. Recent shows have focused on everything from contemporary fashion to decorative arts. The space itself is the draw - soaring ceilings, natural light flooding in, the sense you're in a real working museum rather than a finished product.

It appeals most to design enthusiasts and anyone who finds the main museum overwhelming. Families with older kids will appreciate the behind-the-scenes element; younger children might find it a bit static. Allow a couple of hours maximum unless a particular exhibition grabs you.

Admission details aren't always clear online - best ringing ahead. From Lee Valley, it's a straightforward journey on the Central Line, making it a proper option for a wet afternoon during a caravan park weekend. Skip it if you're after the grand galleries experience; come if you want something more curious and less obvious.