Going Out | Events and Things To Do

Things to do at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The Olympic Park has finally reopened with loads of attractions and activities to keep you and the family busy
High life: the ArcelorMittal Orbit (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Phoebe Luckhurst @phoebeluckhurst
28 April 2014

Remember that summer when it was all about the Olympic Park? During London 2012 Stratford became as familiar to you as your own front room. It was your very own field of dreams. Obviously, you’ve never returned, apart from a single, abortive outing to Westfield since there was nothing enticing you back — until now.

ArcelorMittal Orbit

Designed by Turner Prize-winning artist Sir Anish Kapoor and engineer Cecil Balmond, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is otherwise known as that big red squiggle in the sky. It’s the UK’s tallest sculpture at 114.5m and you can now go up it.

Aquatics Centre

You can now get beyond the swooping and waving exterior of Zaha Hadid’s Aquatics Centre. Rack up the lengths, try group and family swimming lessons, or take a seat in the stadium and go Tom Daley-spotting. It’s his new practice ground.

Tumbling Bay playground

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. Remember: nosebleeds are character-building.

Timber Lodge Café

Relax with a coffee or a glass of wine and something to eat on the large outdoor terrace while the kids maraud around the playground next door.The café is part of a solar-powered eco lodge that also houses a community centre.

Culture

There are 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.