Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is one of London’s finest venues, and has rapidly evolved into a hugely popular tourist attraction for those visiting the city and locals alike. With a series of athletics competitions set to take place here this summer, here’s all you need to know about the park ahead of the big event…
What is Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park?
Originally designed as the venue for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has since developed into an area for both sport and leisure, ideal for all the family. In addition to providing the perfect spot for a day out enjoying sporting events or local activities while staying at the Park Grand Hotel, the park is also dedicated to ensuring an ongoing legacy which helps empower and inspire the local community.
Top Attractions
With 560 acres of parkland and sport venue space, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park includes a wealth of fantastic local attractions, perfect for all ages to enjoy during their stay at Park Grand Paddington suites. A few of our favourite attractions include:
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Arcelormittal Orbit
This 114.5m tall structure provides an opportunity to see the London skyline from on high, taking in key sights such as St Paul’s Cathedral, the 02 and Big Ben. You’ll also be able to see the venues which hosted events from the London 2012 Olympic Games from a unique vantage point. This attraction includes a high-octane, super-fast slide, as well as a freefall abseil. Those who are more cautious can take the steps on a gentle journey back towards the ground.
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Waterways
The River Lea runs through the park, providing access to the waterways and docks which once helped drive the local economy. Having been neglected through the latter half of the 20th century, they were refreshed in time for the 2012 Olympic Games and continue to be used for local sport and leisure activities, providing a scenic spot for boating during your visit to the Park Grand Hotel.
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Mandeville Place
The park also includes a space dedicated to the Paralympic Games, named after the birthplace of the Paralympics, Stoke Mandeville. Using apples as the inspiration (as featured in the 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony), Mandeville Place includes an orchard, and fruit trees native to the homes of each of the 34 Paralympic gold medallists from the 2012 Paralympic Games.
Key Sporting Venues
The park also provides access to the venues which helped make London 2012 such an incredible event, including the London Stadium, arguably the most identifiable of the spaces on offer. Here you will see world-class athletics and football, while the Copper Box Arena is another top sporting venue in the city. Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre features state-of-the-art facilities, as does the London Aquatics Centre and Lee Valley Velo Park, where everything from BMX to track cycling takes place.
Planning your visit
The park itself is open 24-hours a day, and features a range of accessible features designed to help make visiting easier for everyone. There are also plenty of great options for enjoying food and drink during your trip.