31 Jan

Spend the day like an Olympian: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The 2012 London Olympics may be long gone but the olympic park has certainly stayed! Be sure to come on down to the heart of East London for an escape the hustle and bustle of urban living through the Park’s green, open spaces and its tranquil waterways. Perfect after a Top Sights Tour! 

Although no longer a site for professional athletes, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has something fun to do for the whole family. 

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First, and most prominently, is the, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, The largest slide in london standing at 114.5m tall. Visitors can challenge friends and family to a 40-second journey through the twists, turns and drops of The Slide, a hair-raising experience that’s not for the faint-hearted. The world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide loops its way around the ArcelorMittal Orbit 12 times taking visitors through gentle curves, thrilling drops and a tight corkscrew named ‘the bettfeder’ – bedspring in German. Additionally, It gives you the chance to explore London’s famous skylinethrough stunning floor to ceiling windows before experiencing the city’s landmarks from the outside observation walkway suspended 80m above the ground. Discover sights including Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and the O2 and get a bird’s eye view of the former London 2012 Olympic venues. Famously designed by Sir Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond for London 2012, the ArcelorMittal Orbit perfectly combines awe-inspiring city views with fun and contemporary art. Interact with the sculpture itself, flip the horizon in Anish Kapoor’s two huge concave mirrors and enjoy the gentle descent of the 455 steps that wind their way around the sculpture and immerse you in a collection of distinctive London sounds.

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With 560 acres, the Olympic Park offers as much green space as Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens put together. Some 4,000 new trees have been planted, waterways installed, and there are five miles of mountain-bike tracks. Children will love the Tumbling Bay playground with its wildlife, treehouses and wobbly bridges.

 

There are even  25 public artworks installed throughout the park and new performance and exhibition spaces created will be used for cultural events. There are four interactive walking trails focusing on the Games, education, art and culture, and nature and biodiversity. Whether you’re into sports, arts and culture, fresh air, adventure playgrounds, shopping or just relaxing with a cup of coffee and a cake, the Park has something for you!

The Park is open 24 hours a day, everyday! Please note different venues will open at different times, so do check before you visit. It is also advisable to book activities and tours in advance – visit the individual venue websites for more information.

 

 

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