Take 5: Tech delights from London and beyond

Digital tech, tools, communities and art permeate practically all aspects of London life — so there are always plenty of innovative experiences on offer. But just occasionally, exploring pleasures in the nether regions of the rest of Britain and further afield is fabulously fulfilling.

Take five with these tech delights from London and beyond.

V&A’s Computer Art Collections

Renowned arts repository V&A might be the best place on the planet to experience eclectic cultural collections that cover everything from cave paintings to cutting-edge 3D printed designs.

And if pixellated paintings float your boat, it also houses the Computer Arts Society Collection and The Patric Prince Archive.

There are computer-generated photos and images from the 1950s to the present day, with seminal pieces from creators like Ben Laposky, Mark Wilson and Georg Nees.

If this is your favourite arts niche, you’ve found nirvana.

Digital evening classes at Art Academy London

If you want to split your work week up with an activity that’s inspirational and expands your social circle, the Art Academy London’s summer term starts in April, with some eagerly anticipated classes.

You can try your hand at digital animation or digital illustration with tutor Jonny Fenton, learn the fine points of digital SLR photography and photoshop with Katerina Lacovides.

These five-day courses are reasonably priced and will furnish you with the skills to pursue personal or professional projects.

Power UP at Science Museum

South Kensington’s Science Museum opened in 1857, but the fact it still attracts 3.3 million visitors annually suggests it still keeps pace with the latest STEM developments.

And the Power UP gaming event which is slated to run between 6-22 April proves the point, with 160 consoles loaded with the best video games from the past 40 years.

You can take on friends in a Mario Kart multiplayer, attempt to top the leaderboard as a Time Crisis sharpshooter or step into another world in mind-blowing VR environments.

Bjork at BCCB

When it comes to combining new music with digital art, perhaps no artist does it better than Bjork.

And if you didn’t manage to catch her interactive extravaganza at Somerset House last year, it’s currently running at CCCB Barcelona.

After you’ve enjoyed items like a personal VR performance from Bjork on a volcanic beach in Iceland and immersed yourself in the best music videos from her career, the Catalan delights of one of the world’s coolest cities await outside.

Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival

With progressive digital agencies like Attercopia aplenty and a university with a growing reputation for various strands of technology research, West Yorkshire’s Huddersfield has always been switched on to the potential of innovation.

And if you need a leftfield break by November, head north for the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

It’s Britain’s largest gathering for new and experimental music, a firm favourite of BBC Radio 6 DJs and might be the only place on the planet you’ll hear experimental music from Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and the sound and vision fusions of Christian Marclay side by side.

The editorial unit

So ends our list. But please share your own tech experience tips in the comments section.