Most museums have massive storage areas, where they store all of the stuff that's not in the exhibition halls. These storage areas are always closed off to the public. But London's Victoria & Albert Museum has done something really cool, and turned the storage area itself into an accessible destination in its own right. It's called the V&A East Storehouse.

The space almost reminds me of the Collector's Museum in "Guardians of the Galaxy."

It opened earlier this year, and was designed by NYC studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro and British architecture firm Austin-Smith:Lord. Inside you'll find, in addition to books and proper archives, some 250,000 artifacts and objects sitting within curated displays.

You can even, by request, handle some of the objects. You can also access a loft overlooking the Conservation Studios, where you can observe curators at work, preparing objects for display.

There are even recreations of famous spaces that you can peer into. As two examples, here's Frank Lloyd Wright's Kaufmann Office, and the fabulous Frankfurt Kitchen, the then-radical ergonomic galley concept designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky in 1926.

The entire space is four levels, and it looks like you could spend all day there. Note that the floor is a steel grate, so you'll want to consider your choice of footwear.

There is a cafeteria, and also a locker room at the entrance, where you're required to leave your bags and coats. (They don't want any artifacts falling into your pockets.)

The V&A East Storehouse is free to the public and no reservations are required. You can learn more here.