Vinopolis stretches over an impressive 2.5-acre site, the various themed areas housed in a labyrinth of Victorian railway arches in the historic Bankside area of the Thames. The striking glass frontage immediately marks out Vinopolis, as does its innovative approach to wine. This is no stuffy museum, nor a highbrow tasting club, but an exploration of the world of wine in all its glory. It’s not just dry theory, either. The Classic ticket includes five wine-tasting tokens and a Bombay Sapphire gin cocktail. Luckily, the first stop on your tour teaches you the all-important swirl, sniff, slurp and (optional) spit of wine tasting. You then wander through the displays covering the major growing regions such as France, Northern Europe, the Americas, South Africa, Australia and South America. On selected days, you can try premium wines either by purchasing extra tokens or upgrading to the Explorer ticket. You can also join in wine, whiskey and cocktail master classes, plus special events with wine critics such as Oz Clarke. Just in case wine is not quite your thing, Vinopolis also has its own microbrewery for beer and a new whiskey attraction, the Still Room. There is also an opportunity to try the famous drink of Bohemian Paris, absinthe, but does it really make the heart grow fonder? Take a sip and find out…