BpPGb

QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARKWORK OUT, REST AND PLAY INQUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARKWelcome to London’s super-park – the coolest place towatch and take part in sport, bring the kids, communewith nature or simply kick backince its role as the hubof London 2012, QueenSElizabeth Olympic Park hasattracted thousands of visitorsevery week – and its popularitycontinues to grow by the day.But why do Londoners loveit so much? Let’s count a fewreasons – not only is it enormous(almost the size of Hyde Parkand Kensington Gardens puttogether), free to enter and open24/7, it’s also jam-packed withthings to do across the seasons,from sports activities and naturetrails to foodie festivals and popuppoetry readings.What’s more, it’s slap-bang inthe centre of E20, fast becomingone of the capital’s hottestpostcodes, and easy to get to(it’s just a ten-minute walk fromStratford station). More than justa park, it’s a place to eat, drink,play and be merry – and it’s alsoa place to live and work, withexciting business developmentsfrom Here East and TheInternational Quarter plannedfor coming years. In other words,there are worse places to spendyour time…A sporting legacyIt’s impossible not to be inspiredwhen visiting Queen ElizabethOlympic Park – monumentsto the spectacular LondonOlympic and ParalympicGames of 2012stand proudlyall over it,from thenow-iconicLondonAquaticsCentre to the formerOlympic Stadium. But what’seven better is that thesevenues live on after the Games,to be enjoyed not just by thosewith superhumanathletic abilities. From just£3.50, you can channel yourinner Ellie Simmonds (or justsplash about) in the LondonAquatics Centre’s stunningpool, or go and play tennis withmates at Lee Valley Hockey andTennis Centre – or if you’re aftera wheely good time, Lee ValleyVeloPark offers bike hire andBMX tracks.Get some perspectiveThe ArcelorMittal Orbit is oneof Queen Elizabeth OlympicPark’s stand-out attractions– quite literally.The UK’s tallestsculpture, the AnishKapoor-designedtower reaches 114.5metres into the air and,needless to say, offerssome spectacularviews across Londonfrom its top. Thesculpture has twoobservation platforms,one at 76m and one atan eye-watering 80m.LIGHTWORKPHOTOSJEREMY SELWYNHead up fora panoramaof the city –and the rarechance to climbon a famous work ofart without getting toldoff. The unique grass-toppedbuilding that is the Podium, atthe base of the Orbit, is a greatstop-off for coffee and cake.Plenty to exploreIf you’re looking for a differentkind of perspective on QueenElizabeth Olympic Park, get toknow it via one of its many freetrails. Pick up a leaflet fromthe Information Point at thepark (open 10am-3pm daily) ordownload one via the website,and you’ll have the chance totake in the sporting sights ona London 2012 trail, perusethe park’s many hidden worksof art on an art trail, or take thechildren’s trail for little ’uns –full of secret missions for miniadventurersto take part in, whichwill easily keep them amused foran afternoon. Then there’s the‘Discover the Park’ trail, an idealintroduction to the park and itsvarious flora and fauna; on yourvisit you might spot anythingfrom toads to kingfishers – keepyour eyes peeled!Park lifeDespite it being a stone’sthrow from central London (it’sseven minutes from St PancrasInternational, and you can reachit from all of the capital’s majorrailway stations in under 40),Queen Elizabeth Olympic Parkis home to swathes of idyllic,glorious green.The wide, open space of thenorth Parklands, borderingon the cool communities ofHackney Wick and Leyton,is the perfect place tochill and get somebreathing spacein the city. Withinthis verdantsetting, the ecofriendly,solarpoweredTimberLodge is hometo the UnityKitchen Café(www.unitykitchen.co.uk), servingweekday lunches,weekend brunches, snacksand drinks with a focus on fresh,seasonal ingredients. The café’sconveniently located right nextto the Tumbling Bay AdventurePlayground, with tree houses,sandpits, rock pools, swings andslides all designed to help kidsTumbling Bay Adventure PlaygroundGet here by DLRStratfordand StratfordInternational are the nearestDLR stations to the parkget the most out of the park’snatural landscape (and give youthe chance to chill out).The south Parklands are justas much of a treat, boasting apeninsula of wild-flower-filledpleasure gardens. Designedin collaboration with the bodsbehind New York’s famous HighLine, the plant-rimmed gardensare like a series of outdoorrooms, within which you’ll findall kind of great spaces, evena theatre area complete withstage. And – lucky kids – loadsmore play space, including ahelter-skelter and a climbing wallfor the more adventurous ones.Days outThe park’s multitude of zonesand spaces – each with a slightlydifferent vibe – makes it an idealplace for events. Catch a localsports game or a band at theCopper Box Arena (home of theLondon Lions basketball team),browse a mammoth vintagefashionmarket by the water, orattend a live reading at the quirkypop-up Poetry Shed. There’salways something on.For events and parkinformation visit www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.ukQUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK6 TIME OUT Explore by DLR 2014/15Explore by DLR 2014/15 TIME OUT 7