Trinity Buoy Wharf

You'll find Trinity Buoy Wharf down by the Thames in East London, a proper working lighthouse surrounded by converted Victorian warehouses that've become artists' studios and cafes. It's wonderfully odd - the red and white striped lighthouse actually stands on the water, and you can climb up inside it if you time it right, though visits aren't always guaranteed. The wharf itself is free to wander, and there's something quite compelling about watching working artists through studio windows whilst ships move past on the river behind them.

This is mainly for adults who appreciate industrial heritage and don't mind a slightly rougher edge to their London experience. Kids might enjoy the lighthouse novelty for twenty minutes, but it's not a day-out destination for them. The whole thing works best as a detour if you're already heading to Canning Town or exploring East London's regenerated dock areas. Allow an hour to properly look around the studios and grab a coffee. Go midweek if you can - weekends get rammed with Instagram hunters.

If you're staying at Abbey Wood Experience Freedom Glamping just five miles away, this makes a decent morning or afternoon excursion to break up park life. It's urban grit next to your glamping comfort - a proper contrast. The walk from the nearest DLR station is a bit of a trek through functional East London, but that's part of the charm, really. Not everyone's cup of tea, but absolutely worth it if Victorian engineering and working artist spaces appeal to you.