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London’s best free indoor attractions for families

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Battersea Power Station in London, Image 2 shows High-angle wide-angle view of tourists visiting the Natural History Museum in London, with a whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling, Image 3 shows A view of God's Own Junkyard in Walthamstow, north east London, which showcases neon signs

AUTUMN has most certainly arrived – and with it, the dilemma of where to entertain the kids that’s weatherproof.

Luckily, London is home to a lot of attractions that are both indoors and free.

There are a number of free attractions in London ideal for rainy days such as the National GalleryCredit: Alamy

So you can be kept dry and warm, without spending a penny – and the kids will be happy.

If in central London, unlimited travel within Zone 1 and Zone 2 across a day will set you back £8.90 per adult.

Zones 1 to 3 will cost £10.50 per adult and Zones 1 to 4 will cost £12.80 per adult.

Children between five and 10-years-old travel for free on the Tube, DLR, London Overground and Elizabeth line if travelling with an adult who is using pay as you go or has a valid ticket.

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Unlimited daytime travel between Zones 1 and 2 costs £4.45 per child between 11 and 18-years-old.

This rises to £5.25 if including Zone 3 and £6.40 if including Zone 4.

Here is a long list of tings to o in the city, when the weather isn’t playing ball.

Zone 1

Zone 1 ultimately has a lot of free attractions, many of which are close to each other.

South of the river you could head to the Tate Modern, about a 10-minute walk from Southwark (Jubilee Line) Tube Station.

The gallery is home to modern and contemporary art and often runs children’s workshops and activities as well.

At Battersea Power Station, families can explore a Peppa Pig store, Lego store and a Transformers storeCredit: Alamy

Also south of the river is Battersea Power Station – which only reopened a few years ago.

The former power station has been converted into a grand shopping complex, but inside there is also a Lego store, Transformers store and Peppa Pig store.

Each is full of exciting products to explore and they often host events and activities.

More widely, the Power Station also has information boards to learn about the location’s history.

If you kids are massive Lego fans though, head to the Lego Store in Leicester Square instead. where families can enjoy a Pick & Build Wall, demo table, chance to make a mini figure and more.

Perhaps your kids are Harry Potter fans (or you are and want to drag them along) – well then head to House of MinaLima in Soho, near Oxford Circus tube station.

This hidden gem is a gallery and store that displays and sells the graphic art created by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima for the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films.

Think – newspapers with the headlines that Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban and the boxes from Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.

And downstairs there is even a mini museum with props from the films.

Chat to the staff as well, for great stories and facts about the designs and props.

For those more into dinosaurs, the Natural History Museum near South Kensington is a must.

The Natural History museum is home to a lot of dinosaurs as well as other stuffed animalsCredit: Alamy

The museum has over 80 million life and earth specimens to investigate across five main collections – Botany, Entomology, Mineralogy, Palaeontology and Zoology.

Exhibits include a blue whale skeleton, a number of small and large dinosaurs and interactive displays, like an earthquake simulator.

Alternatively, for those more into space and the wonders of the scientific world, head to the Science Museum, also in South Kensington.

Here visitors can see a number of different items from history, such as early computers and space exploration artifacts.

Many of the areas across the museum also include ‘hands-on’ activities and displays, ideal for kids.

Just last month, the museum also opened a new Space Gallery with cutting-edge prototypes and key items used in space exploration.

A third stop in South Kensington is the V&A, which is dedicated to art, design and performance.

There are over 2.8million objects to explore inside the museum, including Henry VIII’s writing desk and a number of Vivienne Westwood‘s designs.

The British Museum building has more than eight million artifactsCredit: Alamy

There are a bunch of other museums in Zone 1 as well, like The British Museum, which is dedicated to human history, art, and culture.

In fact, the eight million items span from over two million years of history.

Highlights include ancient Egyptian mummies and the Parthenon Sculptures.

For an insight into Britain’s military, head to The National Army Museum for history of the army from the English Civil War to the present day or the Imperial War Museum for history of modern war and conflict including both World Wars.

There are a number of galleries in Zone 1 as well, such as the National Portrait Gallery in Trafalgar Square, which is home to the world’s most extensive collection of portraits of historically important and famous Brits.

Next door is then the National Gallery, where you will find the UK’s collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to early 20th centuries.

You’ll be able to spot artwork by Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci.

At the Tate Modern families can explore lots of modern art and often there are workshops for childrenCredit: Alamy

Or over in Pimlico, you could explore the Tate Britain – a major art gallery which holds the UK’s national collection of British art from 1500 to the present day.

Expect artworks by J.M.W Turner, William Hogarth, David Hockney and Barbara Hepworth.

To see an extravagant house in the heart of London, venture to The Wallace Collection.

Inside visitors will find lots of art and antiques that were collected by the Hertford family and Sir Richard Wallace, left to the UK in 1897.

It is perfect for older children who like history and exploring fascinating artefacts.

Book worms should check out the British Library, which is home to over 13million printed and electronic books.

The library hosts a lot of free activities, workshops and exhibitions – especially for children.

For example, you could head to Story Explorers: A journey through imaginary worlds, which explores the stories behind weird and wonderful objects.

At The Outernet, visitors can watch digital art displays on large LED ScreensCredit: Alamy

If your kids like gaming or high-tech, make sure to visit The Outernet, next to Tottenham Court Road Station.

The Outernet is an immersive entertainment venue, which broadcasts different digital art displays on giant LED screen.

Current shows include ‘Enchanted Forest’ which allows visitors to step into a “musical adventure where you help bring a silent forest back to life”.

Last but not least is an amazing spot to see both the city’s skyline and enjoy a sprawling garden, without being rained on.

Sky Garden, near Monument, is a public garden inside the glass dome that sits at the top of the famous Walkie-Talkie building.

The garden offers breathtaking views of the city, as well as lots of greenery.

Tickets do need to be booked in advance though.

V&A East Storehouse only opened earlier this yearCredit: Getty

Zone 2

If you venture out to Zone 2, one top spot is The Young V&A in Bethnal Green, which only opened in 2023.

The museum is the perfect place to take kids to spark their creativity, with hands-on activities based on colours, textures and shapes.

For example, there is a construction zone for den making and a giant marble run.

In West India Quay, you can head to Museum of London Docklands where the history of London’s port and river are explored.

The museum takes visitors on a chronological journey of the docks’ history, with interactive displays along the way.

Having only opened this year, the V&A East Storehouse is a new one to add to your ‘to visit’ list.

Located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the storehouse has 250,000 objects, 1,000 archives and 300,000 books instead.

The Sun’s deputy travel editor Kara Godfrey said: “It almost reminded me of an IKEA warehouse with the simple plywood and metal structures and open concept.

The Horniman Museum has lots of different collections to explore, as well as an aquariumCredit: Alamy

Zone 3

Located in Forest Hill, families should visit the Horniman Museum and Gardens.

The museum has lots of different collections including ones based on natural history, anthropology, and musical instruments.

There is even an aquarium as well.

For some multi-fun, drop into God’s Own Junkyard to see Europe‘s largest collection of vintage and new neon signs.

Located in Walthamstow and open Friday to Sunday, the warehouse even has a number of signs from films including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Batman.

You’re bound to have seen some of William Morris’s designs plastered across hotel walls as wallpaper or even as a notepad cover, and at the William Morris Gallery – also in Walthamstow – you can see the world’s largest collection of Morris’s work up close.

At God’s Own Junkyard, you can see hundreds of neon signs, including ones used in filmsCredit: Alamy

Zone 4

If you fancy travelling out to Zone 4, then make sure not to miss the Royal Air Force Museum London.

Located in Colindale, The Royal Air Force Museum London has a vast collection of aircraft and artifacts that all tell the story of aviation and the RAF.

In total there are six hangars to explore and key exhibits including a Spitfire and Hurricane.

You can even try out a flight simulator, that feels like you are flying a Typhoon jet.

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SCHOOL’S OUT

London’s best free indoor attractions for families – perfect for rainy days

Looking for rainy day activities outside of London? Then head on this English walk that’s perfect for rainy days, ending with a stunning waterfall and one of the country’s best cafes.

Plus, here are nine of our top winter day trips that are great even in rain and snow… from kid-friendly museums to seafront shows.

At the Royal Air Force Museum London in Colindale, visitors can try out a flight simulatorCredit: Alamy

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London’s ‘most underrated’ Christmas market ‘feels like travelling back in time’

A Christmas lover has highlighted a festive event that they think could be the ‘most underrated’ in London

It’s not long now until Christmas celebrations kick off across the country, with festive markets, ice rinks, and the like returning to many cities and towns. In London, there will be no shortage of family-friendly events for anyone looking to get into the festive spirit.

2025 also sees the return of a festive fayre that’s been described as “the most underrated Christmas market in London.” The Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre returns for two weekends in December, running between December 5-7 and 12-14.

One previous visitor who shared high praise for the event recommended the ticketed event in a social media video. Posting on TikTok as @travelfromessex, the blogging duo wrote: “If you are planning on hitting a London Christmas market this year make it Hampton Court Palaces Festive Fayre!

“In our opinion it’s the most underrated Christmas market in London! Running on 5-7 & 12-14 December 2025, book your ticket now. You can wander the palace & grounds during your visit too! It makes you feel like you have travelled back in time. Enjoy festive stalls, food & drinks as well as live entertainment.”

The post racked up over 5k likes, and viewers loved the recommendation. Someone replied: “Oh I can’t wait for this!!!” A viewer praised: “Looks amazing.” Another fan said: Definitely need to go!”

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According to Hampton Court Palace’s website, the fayre features over one hundred artisan producers, with Henry VIII’s palace serving as the backdrop. The event page states: “Experience a ‘truly magical day’ at this year’s Hampton Court Palace Festive Fayre.

“This much-loved Christmas shopping event is back for two unforgettable weekends, hosted entirely in the stunning Great Fountain Garden of Henry VIII’s famous palace. There is no better way to kick off a festive season to remember!

“Don’t miss an unforgettable festive day out with your loved ones. Eat, shop and be merry at this spectacular palace. Visit on Fridays to save on entry. Return on the second weekend to discover even more independent stallholders, with members visiting for free. Included in your ticket, why not also explore the grand palace, 60 acre gardens and famous maze.” Adult tickets start from £28.

Hampton Court Palace has thousands of reviews on TripAdvisor, with many mentioning the festive fayre. For example, one previous visitor said: “This place, in my opinion, is simply magical. It is just a privilege to walk around this stunning place. We kicked off our festive activities by visiting the Palace, the Christmas fayre, followed by ice-skating.

“Yes, a lot of things are expensive, but I considered this as a treat; we ate several times from the wonderful stalls. We are Royal Palaces Members so enjoyed benefits there of course. We all came away with smiles on our faces. Lovely staff.”

Another wrote: “We have membership to the royal palaces, but this was our first year attending the 3 day Festive Fayre event. It was absolutely wonderful.

“The courtyards are filled with stalls, offering everything from craft gins and beers, to wonderful trinkets and gifts and every cuisine under the sun. Once the sun started to set, the fairy lights in the courtyards made the experience even more magical.”

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I spent the night in London’s cheapest hotel room and slept like a baby

IN the middle of London is a new hotel that claims to be the largest of it’s kind in the world – and rooms are the cheapest in the capital.

Zedwell is one of the city’s newest hotels to open, right in the middle of Piccadilly Circus.

A woman in a Zedwell capsule.

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Our writer, Helen, gets cosy in her capsule for the nightCredit: Helen Wright
A long hallway with capsule rooms, some with open doors revealing beds, and signs for "Cocoon" rooms and "Toilets Showers" with arrows.

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The dorms resemble a multi-story car park or a storage locker, but are cosy on the insideCredit: iana ianakieva

Being so central, you can normally expect hotels to have high prices – the nearby Ritz and the W Hotel can command nightly rates of £500 or more.

Not Zedwell – the new hotel claims to be the world’s biggest capsule hotel, and with that, comes the small price of just £30 a night.

That definitely makes it the cheapest hotel room in the city (unless you want to bunk up in an 18-bed dorm).

Having opened last month, it sits directly above Piccadilly Circus Underground Station, so tourists would walk by without knowing this ultra trendy hotel was there. 

With the door currently hidden under scaffolding, I almost missed it too. 

But what is it really like to stay there?

Inside, decked out with a modern concrete and timber design, there are nearly 1,000 individual sleep capsules over five floors. 

Guests use an iPad to self-check in, before being directed to one of the correct floor and room.

Each dorm needs a key card to access, too, so you can only enter the dorm you are assigned, which definitely makes it feel secure. 

It’s a twist on the traditional ‘dorm style’ hostel set up as each guest gets privacy and security of being tucked up in your capsule, with the ability to lock it from the inside. 

Inside the UK hotel in the middle of a national park – named one of the world’s best

Choosing a female-only room (there are also male-only and mixed), each of the square pods were stacked with a top and bottom pod.

On first glance, the dorm rooms, which are minimalist and dimly-lit looked a bit like a car park or a storage locker.

It’s nothing like you’d expect a hotel room to look, so it takes some getting used to.

I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to sleep in a multi-story car park.

However, inside, I was surprised to find a cute little space, with mood lighting and welcoming interiors.

Each capsule is made from oak and come with a single Hypnos mattress, Egyptian cotton bedding, individual mini aircon or heat, smart climate control, noise reduction, and ambient lighting.

There is also a plug socket inside, two USB plugs and a mirror. 

However, being a private pod ‘room’ means there isn’t much storage space – there are no room for suitcases inside.

I felt like a Sylvanian Family creature shutting themselves in my room

You have to leave them outside your capsule, so be sure to put your valuables in the pod when you lock it or take them with you.

If you want to leave your case at the hotel after you checkout, the hotel charges £15 to store them securely with them.

Make sure to bring your own padlock too, so you can lock your pod if you plan on going out (although reception let you buy them on-site as well).

There are clean common areas too, which felt more adult then teen-backpacker, which includes a lounge and co-working space.

I was impressed with how clean the communal bathroom and toilet area as well, with light jazz music playing overhead.

But the big question – how did I sleep?

A woman gives a thumbs-up from inside a sleeping capsule, indicating satisfaction.

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Helen, pictured, had a surprisingly good night’s sleep. Despite sharing her dorm with six other women, it was really quiet.Credit: Helen Wright
An open capsule hotel room with a jacket hanging, and a book and sunglasses on the bed.

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The capsules have a modern design that is simple without being too clinical and everything was so cleanCredit: iana ianakieva
Changing room area at Zedwell capsules.

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Helen stayed on a female-only floor and the shared showers and toilets were clean and tidy.Credit: iana ianakieva

More used to a double bed than being boxed in by four walls, pulling the door down behind me feeling a little bit like a Sylvanian Family creature shutting themselves in a mini garage. 

Surprisingly, it didn’t feel as claustrophobic as I thought it would – as a 5″5 woman, I was able to sit up and easily stretch my legs.

Even more surprisingly, I had a great night sleep, with no rowdy drunken people or loud talkers disturbing the peace.

I did get woken up once by someone opening up their dorm door at 4am.

With each pod door made from plastic and metal, it means they don’t open and close too quietly.

Aside from that, I couldn’t fault my stay. In fact, it was so quiet and dark, I actually slept in an hour later than I usually wake up. 

The hotel itself felt very safe too, with a security guard on the door and someone in reception 24-hours a day, as well as CCTV on each floor.

And even outside, the central location means everything you need is on your doorstep, from the London’s West End to Chinatown.

It’s great for friendship groups or solo travellers or if you have a big night out in Soho planned and don’t want to get the tube home. 

Halima Aziz, Head of Hotels at Criterion Hospitality said, “We are taking the capsule hotel concept to the next level, one that combines an exceptional location with a focus on simplicity, thoughtful design that balances accessibility with privacy and quality rest, right in the centre of the city.”

I hope the capsule concept takes off in London.

The city is crying out for affordable places to stay and for £30? It can’t be beaten.

Advertising screens at Piccadilly Circus featuring ads for Coca-Cola, Vins de Bordeaux, and Dassault Systèmes, with a red double-decker bus on the street.

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The Zedwell Capsule Hotel is in London’s Piccadilly Circus close to so many tourist attractions, including Leicester Square, Chinatown and Oxford StreetCredit: Getty

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Gangs of London’s Lucian Msamati teases new Netflix show Hostage with Suranne Jones

Reach Screen Time spoke exclusively to Lucian Msamati about working with Suranne Jones

One of the leading actors from Netflix‘s new adrenaline-fuelled political thriller Hostage, has given us a sneak peek behind the scenes, following lead actress Suranne Jones’ unexpected revelation, reports the Manchester Evening News.

In an exclusive chinwag with Reach Screen Time, Lucian Msamati, known for his roles in Gangs of London and Game of Thrones, spilled the beans about the twist-filled series and his experience working alongside the Gentleman Jack star.

Msamati, 49, shared: “I think there was great spark. Suranne and I just got on like a house on fire and we sort of became work husband and wife, which is really at the centre of both of their jobs.

“They’re both hard-headed, they’re both very good at what they do and they both care.”

He hinted: “I think the scenes, without giving too much away, there are later scenes to come which were tough in good way. But that’s the juice that we’re after.”

A man and a woman pose and smile
Lucian Msamati and Suranne Jones have a tense dynamic in Netflix’s Hostage(Image: GETTY)

READ MORE: Inside Netflix’s Hostage star Suranne Jones’ offscreen life from sweet marriage to crippling anxietyREAD MORE: Inside the inspiration for Netflix thriller Hostage

Hostage is a five-part Netflix series and marks Coronation Street and Vigil actress Jones’ first venture with the streaming behemoth.

The star collaborated closely with creator and Oscar-nominated writer Matt Charman, who penned the script for Hollywood film Bridge of Spies, on the story. She also wore the hat of a producer on the TV series.

Msamati portrays prime ministerial aide Kofi Adomako, who is tasked with advising Jones’ British premier Abigail Dalton after her husband is kidnapped and her resignation is demanded as the ransom for his release.

The distinguished British-Tanzanian actor revealed he was attracted to the project by Charman, and disclosed how the playwright rang him about the role which was penned specifically with the star in mind.

A man in a suit stands by a woman at a desk
Lucian Msamati and Suranne Jones star in Netflix’s Hostage(Image: NETFLIX)

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Looking back on his preparation for the character of Adomako, the actor explained: “I think I’ve had the benefit of playing lots of conciliatory types, lots of right-hand, king of the hand type characters. This is watching people who are immediately behind the throne.

“There were some really interesting books, the calculation that has to happen. A person whose job it is to anticipate, the person whose job it is to go, ‘What are the possible outcomes here? Can I get ahead of this?’ Just being, you know, ultimately loyal, ultimately responsible.”

A man in a black suit smiles
Lucian Msamati serves as a prime ministerial advisor in Netflix’s Hostage(Image: GETTY)

He continued: “And he sort of, for myself, this guys’s been there, he’s done that, several governments, he knows his stuff. We don’t know his political allegiance but we know he’s first duty is to the office of the prime minister.”

Msamati is currently occupied with numerous other ventures and according to IMDb, he will be featuring in the mini-series Run Away.

The star also revealed: “There are a few interesting theatrical projects bubbling and brewing and there may or may not be another well-known television series that may or may not be coming out later this year that I may or may not be a part of. You’ll just have to wait and see.”

The interview coincides with Sky’s confirmation of a fourth season for Gangs of London. However, considering the recent plot developments, it seems improbable that Msamati will make a comeback.

Hostage is streaming on Netflix now

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Look east: an exhilarating weekend in London’s new cultural quarter | London holidays

There’s a collective intake of breath as the curator slowly unzips the white garment bag to reveal the treasure within: a white military-style jacket embellished with gold buttons and epaulettes, worn by Elton John on his 1981 World tour. To my left, laid out on a table, are a gold Versace bag and a pair of daintily embroidered blue silk shoes dating from the 1720s. To my right, a Vivienne Westwood corset and a Balenciaga pink taffeta evening dress from the 1950s. It’s a fashion lover’s fever dream and it’s all here, at my fingertips.

I’m at the V&A East Storehouse in east London, a radical new museum experience that allows anyone to order up any item from the V&A’s vast collection – for free – and to examine it at close quarters. Housed in the former Olympics Media Centre, on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, this lofty warehouse space gives unprecedented access to more than 250,000 objects, from an 11m wide stage cloth designed by Picasso to a cross-section of a maisonette from the Robin Hood Gardens council estate in Poplar. Gone are the glass cases, white walls and carefully curated exhibits of a traditional museum space. Instead, visitors are invited to look behind the scenes of a working museum, to wander among open shelves stacked high with deliriously eclectic objects and to peer into the workshops where conservators are at work. The effect is part Ikea showroom, part Victorian cabinet of curiosities. It’s bold, slightly bonkers and I love it.

The Weston Collections Hall at V&A East Storehouse. Photograph: © Hufton+Crow

The opening of this new V&A outpost marks the latest chapter in the reinvention of the Olympic Park as a “new cultural quarter” for London. At the time of the London 2012 games, I lived in Bow, on the edge of the Olympic Park. On the night of the opening ceremony we watched from the window of my flat as fireworks lit up the sky above the stadium. It was the culmination of one of the most ambitious regeneration projects that London had ever seen and we had a ringside seat as this brave new world rose up from a 560-acre brownfield site.

As well as providing a deprived area of east London with world-class sporting facilities, part of the Olympic legacy was the promise to build a new creative hub, somewhere that would inspire locals and visitors alike. We moved out of the area shortly after the games finished, so I was curious to see for myself whether that promise had been fulfilled.

On a bright spring morning the park is quietly humming with activity. Teenagers glide along wide boulevards on roller skates and toddlers play in the water fountains in front of the London Stadium. On the canal, families drift by in pedalos in the shape of white swans, watched over by Zaha Hadid’s imposing Aquatic Centre which carves a graceful arc in the blue sky.

My daughter and I make a beeline for a cluster of new buildings which are lined up along the canal. The East Bank project represents the largest single investment in culture by a London mayor since the Great Exhibition of 1851. The first phase launched in 2023 with the opening of cutting-edge new campuses for University College London (UCL) and the London College of Fashion. Both sites have been designed to be open and accessible to the public. So you can wander into the reception of UCL East and see public art installations – on our visit Luke Jerram’s “Gaia”, an inflatable replica of the Earth, was floating serenely above the atrium – or head to the cafe where your coffee will be delivered to you by a robot waiter.

A postgraduate show at the London College of Fashion, East Bank. Photograph: Ana Blumenkron

At the London College of Fashion, the public areas host regular showcases of student work. We stroll around the lobby, all bare concrete and curving staircases, and admire a display of outlandish undergraduate creations – although my daughter is far more interested in what the fashion students themselves are wearing.

Next door is Sadler’s Wells East, a new outpost of the dance theatre which opened in February. The open-plan foyer is home to a light-filled bar, cafe and dance space – when we drop in for a coffee there’s a community dance class in mid-flow. The 550-seat auditorium will provide a home for visiting dance companies of every genre, from ballet to hip-hop. We have booked tickets for that evening’s show, a family-friendly performance of Snow White by the balletLorent.

Our next stop is the ArcelorMittal Orbit, the twisted red steel sculpture that towers over the Olympic Park. We take the lift up to the viewing platform, a dizzying 80m above the ground. Far below us the London Stadium, now home to West Ham football club, is laid out like a Subbuteo pitch. As a general rule of thumb, I try to avoid any activity that involves having to don an Australian Rules Football helmet and elbow protectors. And yet here I am, joining the queue of teenagers waiting to launch themselves feet first down the Helix, the high-speed helter skelter that snakes around the outside of Anish Kapoor’s look-at-me landmark. My teenage daughter takes one look at the foam helmet and refuses to go any further. “It’s just a big slide!” I tell her. “Come on, it’ll be fun!”

The Helix slide on the ArcelorMittal Orbit at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Photograph: Mark Mercer/Alamy

These words – and others that cannot be published here – ring in my ears as I corkscrew down the metal tube at terrifying speed, emerging 40 seconds later feeling like I’ve been flushed down the S-bend. My sensible daughter has taken the lift down and is waiting for me at the bottom. “Oh Mum,” she says.

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One of the side-effects of this area’s transformation has been a burgeoning of the local food scene, from the world’s first zero-waste restaurant, Silo in Hackney Wick, to Barge East, a floating bar and restaurant moored in the shadow of the London Stadium. We’ve booked a table at Hera, one of the park’s newest openings, which has been winning accolades for its authentic Greek food.

It does not disappoint. From the basket of homemade bread and dip of smoked aubergine with thyme, honey and balsamic vinegar, to the elegant sea bass carpaccio and charcoal-grilled chicken skewers, everything is sensational. But the standout dish is the feta saganaki – feta cheese, wrapped in angel hair, deep-fried and drizzled with lemon honey. My daughter and I are still dreaming about it weeks later.

Swan pedalos in the Olympic Park. Photograph: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

It’s the kind of lunch that needs to be followed by a long walk, so we trace the course of the canal, fringed with head-high whispering grasses, into the northern half of the park, eventually reaching the iconic Olympic rings – which have found a permanent home on a raised mound overlooking the Lee Valley VeloPark.

A group of women dressed head to toe in sequins shimmer past in the late afternoon sunshine, on their way to Abba Voyage. The virtual concert experience has attracted more than two million visitors since opening in a purpose-built arena on the edge of the Olympic Park in 2022. In September, they will be joined by an army of David Bowie fans when the V&A Storehouse becomes the new home of the David Bowie archive, comprising stage costumes, song lyrics, instruments, makeup charts and sketches. And there’s more to come. Next year will see the relocation of the BBC Music Studios from Maida Vale to Stratford and the opening of the V&A East museum in a striking new building inspired, apparently, by an X-ray of a Balenciaga dress.

I’ve enjoyed being a tourist on my old home turf. It may not have the gravitas of South Kensington, the architectural cohesion of the South Bank Centre or the neoclassical elegance of Covent Garden, but East Bank is an invigorating and inspiring addition to London’s cultural scene. And it’s fun. Where else can you slide down Britain’s tallest sculpture, handle vintage haute couture, or dance in front of an Abba avatar, all in one day?

The V&A East Storehouse opens to the public on 31 May. Information on visiting East Bank and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk

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