The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park: a visitor's guide

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/apr/08/queen-elizabeth-olympic-park-london

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The same size as Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens combined and the biggest new park to open in London for a century, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the one of the most ambitious developments the capital has ever seen. Now, almost two years after London was taken over by Olympic fever, the park has just reopened for public use and the ambitious plans for its legacy can be finally put to the test. The park has received a facelift to make it a green and spacious environment: 4,300 new trees have been planted and four new outdoor spaces added on top of the miles of waterways, acres of woods and habitats for wildlife. From the nature and mountain biking trails to the Olympic pool, we look at the what's on offer in the capital's newest playground.

SPORTS VENUES

London Aquatics Centre

Whether it's the possibility of spotting Olympian Tom Daley or the architectural allure of Zaha Hadid's curvaceous construction, the London Aquatics Centre – which opened to the public in February – is already proving a popular attraction. The futuristic municipal design, which is matched with a calming, advert-free interior, is worth checking out whether you plan to swim or not. The high-spec, 50-metre Olympic pools (yes there are two, one concealed underground), have 10 and eight lanes respectively. The more daring – or attention-seeking – can chance a dive off the ominous concrete diving blocks at the far end of the building. • 020-8536 3150, better.org.uk/london-aquatics-centre. Open Mon-Fri 6am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Entry from £2-£7

Lee Valley Velopark

The Velopark is a hub for cyclists of every discipline: those out for a rocky ride can cruise the 390-metre-long BMX track, which has been adapted from the one used in the Games; the indoor track (the fastest in the world) in the distinctive Pringle-shaped velodrome, on which Britain had so much success in 2012, is also open to the public; and the floodlit road circuit is suitable for serious stamina training as well as being a great place to learn to ride. There are also three graded mountain bike trails opening in May. One of the best things about the Velopark is that you don't even need a bike; you can hire everything you need on arrival, making it the perfect place to try out new and unfamiliar styles of riding. • 08456 770 603, visitleevalley.org.uk/velopark. Open Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri-Sun 9am-8pm. Prices vary depending on the activity but sessions start at £4 for children and £6 for adults; bike and helmet hire £6 concession, £10 adults

The Copper Box Arena

The venue for handball, fencing and goalball during the Olympics, the Copper Box is now a multi-use sports space for fitness fans. The venue – which is probably going to be more attractive for locals than day trippers – features a sparkling new gym as well as activity space where you can take part in anything from Zumba to badminton, but you don't need to be a member to visit. The 6,500 seater venue is also still hosting events – such as mixed martial arts tournaments, heavyweight boxing and pop concerts – and is also the home of the London Lions basketball team. • 020-8221 4900, better.org.uk/copperboxarena. Open Mon-Fri 7am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Pay and play activities from £3-10

Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre

Featuring two professional hockey pitches (the best in the country) as well as six outdoor and four indoor tennis courts, this centre is, like the Copper Box, likely to be well attended by those turning up to train. Still, anyone eager for a game of tennis can just turn up and play. It is also a regional hub for wheelchair tennis and for the next three years will host the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters. • Opens in June 2014, visitleevalley.org.uk/lee-valley-hockey-tennis

ATTRACTIONS

The Orbit

If you're looking for a game to play as you stroll around the park, try coming up with new ways to describe Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond's sculptural behemoth. The tri-mangled crane? The red-metal devil? The smelter helter skelter? Whatever you decide to call it, the sculpture, made of 2,000 tonnes of steel and the largest in Britain, really is sight to behold. And the view from the top's not bad either. At around 100m high, the viewing platform offers visitors the chance to absorb the rapidly changing London skyline, from the blocky, boom-time skyscrapers of Canary Wharf to the more delicate shapes emerging in the city centre. To save your legs, our advice is to get the lift up, and walk the spiral staircase down. • 0333 800 8099, arcelormittalorbit.com. April 1 -September 30 , open daily 10am-6pm, last entry 5pm; October 1-31 March, open daily 11am-5pm, last entry 4pm. Adults £15, children £7

Timber Lodge Cafe

A solar powered eco-eatery that's been designed to blend into its surroundings, the Timber Lodge Cafe is also a social enterprise. Unity Kitchen, who run the cafe, spend their profits on creating jobs for disabled people in the local area as well as emphasising the importance of healthy, affordable food. The spacious wood-walled building is the perfect place to regroup and refuel, just take your pick from the fairly-priced menu that includes everything from Moroccan salads to hot pot dishes, all going for a few quid. • 020-7241 9076, unitykitchen.co.uk/unity-kitchen-cafe. Mon-Sun 9am-5pm

Tumbling Bay Playground

Parents can sit and relax while their kids run wild in this playground right next to the cafe. There are rickety (looking) walkways, rock pools and treehouses, sandpits, wobbly bridges, slides, swings and even some modern art – the Cross and Cave sculpture by Heather and Ivan Morison – hidden amongst all the play things.

South Plaza

In the shadow of the main stadium – which will not reopen, as West Ham United's ground, until 2016 – is the relandscaped South Plaza. The area through which spectators walked on their way into the Olympic park now consists of illuminated tree-lined boulevards, modern play parks and a mini amphitheatre for outdoor performances. There's a climbing wall for children that slopes down to the canal, as well as sandpits, water features and fountains. Designed in part by the team behind New York's much loved High Line, the space is a place to play, relax and explore.

Go for a tour

To learn about the history of the park, the ideas behind the architecture and the spectacle of the Games, sign up for a tour with one of the Blue Badge Tour Guides offering walks around the site. The guides, who have personal knowledge of the project, will tell you about how the site is being developed for the future as well as sharing London's Olympic and Paralympic story. A whole range of new types of tours and walks will become available over the summer. • queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/trailsandtours. Tours run every Thursday and Saturday at 11am, starting outside Pudding Mill Lane DLR station. Adults £10, concessions £8, children £5

Follow the trail

Another aspect of the park's post-Olympic makeover is the addition of four interactive trails that lead visitors through the 560 acres of parkland. There is a children's trail, which includes "secret missions" to encourage kids to explore, and an art trail, which shows you round the public art commissioned as part of the Olympic legacy. You can collect the free trail guides from the Information Point at the entrance to the park, opposite the Aquatics Centre. • queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/trailsandtours