While I was in Leeds at the weekend I finally made the journey to the Royal Armouries, I've been saying for ages I want to go and have a gander seeing as it's free and all that. I wasn't overly impressed with the Museum itself, I realised pretty much as soon as I walked through the door that I have little to no interest in any of the topics it covers. But anyway I still enjoyed visiting Clarence Dock, and found the actual Royal Armouries building really interesting. My sources tell me it was designed by British architect Derek Walker, who also designed the first US-style shopping centre in the UK. I love how it was designed to look like a fortress, fitting the purpose of the build. I also like how although it takes elements from mediaeval castle designs, it's still modern and contemporary; it imposes on the landscape but doesn't dominate it.

Other highlights of the day-trip were the really well thought-out armour display in the huge stairwell, and the horned mask presented to Henry VIII (also used as the armouries logo)... although the mask was a little bit scary.