East London reborn: the ArcelorMittal Orbit and Queen Elizabeth Park

For a fascinating and very different view of the capital, head east to Stratford and the former Olympic park. In 2012 this was the focus of world attention as athletes competed for medals. Now it’s being transformed into a leisure destination for everyone to enjoy. Easy to reach by public transport, it has enough attractions to fill an action-packed day.

At the park's heart is the twisting red steel tower of the ArcelorMittal Orbit, at 114.5m Britain’s tallest sculpture. Lifts whisk you up to two observation platforms, where the view stretches for 20 miles. Interactive screens let you zoom in on landmarks and learn more about them; to the west, framed by part of the sculpture, are the distinctive skyscrapers of the City.

Looking down gives a bird's-eye view of the park and the Olympic stadium, soon to become the home of West Ham Football Club as well as an athletics centre and live music venue.

 

You can also see work progressing on the Crossrail project, which will mean even more transport links for Stratford.

While the upper platform is encircled by an open-air walkway, the lower one is enclosed and has an unusual touch - concave mirrors designed by Sir Anish Kapoor, which flip the perspective and turn the horizon on its head.

Those wanting to prolong the experience can walk down afterwards - a staircase with 455 shallow steps coils around the central structure, and is filled with sounds recorded around London.

Once down at ground level, there's plenty more to do. If you've worked up an appetite, stop at the adjacent EastTwenty Bar + Kitchen. Sit inside or relax on the terrace overlooking the Waterworks River while enjoying the great selection of food, locally-sourced and seasonal whenever possible.

A stroll along the river will take you past garden ‘rooms’ created for the Olympics, themed for different parts of the world (and still blooming in early autumn).  Behind them is the Aquatics Centre, with its swooping roof. It’s open if you fancy a dip in one of the three pools, but those who prefer to stay dry might like a 45-minute cruise through the park along the River Lea in a Lee + Stort boat, which are moored just below the adjacent bridge.

They leave on the hour from noon and take you as far as the A12 bridge and back again. Our guide, Josephine, has lived in the area all her life and was a mine of information about the transformation she has seen – from industrial wasteland to beautiful public gardens.

The once-polluted water is now a haven for wildlife. Among the reeds in the more rural north of the park we saw a heron, coots and a kingfisher. And as we ended our trip, there was a cormorant perched on one of the park's many art installations, while swans sailed serenely past.

If you're visiting with youngsters, they might like to spend some time in the Tumbling Bay playground with its rock pools, tree-houses, slides and swings. The Copper Box Arena, home for handball, fencing and modern pentathlon during the Olympics is also worth a look, as is the VeloPark where you can hire a bike and try all four Olympic forms of cycling: track, BMX, road and mountain. To round off the day (and a useful refuge if it rains), on the way back to the station you pass through the giant Westfield mall, where stores range from Swarovski and Mulberry to John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Primark  and T.K.Maxx.

Admission to the ArcelorMittal Orbit is adults £15, children £7, concessions £12. Tip: as we left the boat we were given vouchers for £2 off tickets for the Orbit, and £1 off future boat trips.

http://queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/ 

http://arcelormittalorbit.com/

A bird's-eye view of the Thames

A big thumbs up for London’s first cable car service across the Thames, which has now opened for passengers. On its first day I joined several hundred people queuing in warm, sunny weather for the half-mile journey over the river, and was rewarded with (below) stunning views of the O2 arena, the Canary Wharf financial district, and the Olympic Park.  

Even the Thames barrier, which protects the capital from flooding, was clearly visible.

The Emirates Air Line, as it’s officially known, runs between terminals at North Greenwich (left) and the ExCel exhibition centre at the Royal Docks, both of which are hosting Olympic events.

Each of the 34 cars can hold 10 people, and accommodates wheelchairs and baby buggies. They run continuously, slowing right down at the terminals to allow passengers to board and alight, then swinging up and out over the river to reach a height of almost 300 ft. The operators, Transport for London, say up to 2,500 people an hour can be carried in each direction.


Emirates has invested £36 million in the project as part of a 10-year sponsorship deal. This stretch of Thames is currently served by road tunnels, but no bridges, so the cable car is a useful link. London mayor Boris Johnson says the service is a tourist attraction but also a valuable addition to the capital's public transport infrastructure.

How heavy the demand will be for the journey after the Olympics remains to be seen. Fares start at £3.20 for a single fare using an Oyster travel card/Freedom pass or £4.30 without, and there is a ‘frequent flyer’ pass allowing 10 single journeys for £16. There were a few teething troubles with ticket-buying immediately after the opening, though these were hopefully short-lived. The journey takes between 5 and 10 minutes  (quickest at rushhour and slower from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.)  Some passengers have queried the cost, saying it’s too expensive for regular commuters. But there’s no doubt that everyone on the first day, young and old, was thrilled with the stunning views of London and the river that flows through its heart.

More details at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/23828.aspx