Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week:
Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?

"The DLR – Docklands Light Railway – offers some great opportunities to get close to the Olympic park. If you’re coming from Docklands, or from Tower Hill, the section from Pudding Mill Lane to Stratford runs right alongside the park, with some great views of the main stadium, and your only chance to see the beautiful Aquatics Centre “end on”, and so glimpse the wave form of the main building, which is hidden by the temporary “wings” from any other angle. The platforms at both Pudding Mill Lane and Stratford are high enough to give you good views, too. If you change at Stratford for the other DLR line, you can ride right through the middle of the park, to Stratford International DLR station – one of five new stations in east London created for the games. To be honest, you don’t get the most scenic views from the train – up close and personal with the side of the Waterpolo venue, and then underground for a spell – but when you come up the escalators at the station, you’re right at the gates of the Athlete’s Village. It might not be as flashy as the main stadium, but it’s an interesting development, none the less, and a big part of the legacy planning. It’s going to be the “greenest” large scale new residential development in Europe when it’s finished! What you can see rather depends on the building work going on - there’s a floating population of porta-cabins and cranes which sometimes block the view, but look out for the green roofs, and the panels from the Parthenon friezes on some of the buildings. "- Miss Alice

* Photo by Andy Wilkes, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week: “Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?”

"The View Tube, located on the Greenway at Pudding Mill Lane has some of the best views going! This social enterprise project offers a café and garden, to go along with the view, as well as information and artistic responses to the park. You can even hire a bike to help you explore the area that way. (The other main viewing platform is from the other side of the park, in John Lewis in the Westfield Stratford City development – the contrast of settings is quite noticeable!)"- Miss Alice

* Photo by Andy Wilkes, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week: “Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?”

"To continue from yesterday’s recommendation, you also have the option of buying a ticket for a 1.30pm tour from www.visitbritainshop.com which slightly differs from the 11am tour.

The afternoon group can meet at Leyton Underground Station at 1.30pm for an approximate 1.45pm start which would end at, approximately, 4pm. This is a much more extensive walk, and comfortable shoes and energy are essential! So, for any of you who like to add exercise into your daily routine, you can both exercise and view the Olympic Park on one go! This particular guided tour will get a closer view of the Athletes Village and the Velodrome.

The only remaining tour of this type is this coming Saturday, 31st May. So, if you want, make sure you sign up quickly if any spots are still available! The price is still at £9 per person."- Christina

* Photo by STML, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

Countdown to the Olympics

Question of the week: “Do you have any tips on how to go about seeing the Olympic Park by foot, or coach, or public transport?”

"To see the Olympic Park with a guided tour, starting 1st April, there will be a Daily Olympic Park as provided by www.visitbritainshop.com starting at 11am and another at 1.30pm. More details tomorrow on the 1.30pm tour.

If you want to catch the 11am tour, which is not as extensive and doesn’t get very close to the Velodrome, go to Bromley By Bow Underground Station at 10.45am where a tour guide will meet you (and anyone else who has booked) and walk you through Lower Lea valley and old mill paths and ends on a footpath where you can view the 2012 Olympic Park construction sight. This tour provides information on why Stratford was selected as the main site for the Olympics, venue specifics, athlete information, and what will happen to the site once the Games are over.

You must visit the website to book in advance! The price is at an affordable £9. Why not use this unique opportunity to witness the making of something as historical and grand as the Olympic Games?"- Christina

* Photo by Sum_of_Marc, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.

London Walks

Question of the week: London Walk's Winter Wanders 2010 are coming up this weekend, so do you have a favourite walking route around London?

"Oops running a little late here, so this will have to be a brief post. One of my regular walking routes is along the Greenway in east London, which is as much because it's local as anything else. One of the really neat things about the stretch around Stratford, though, is that it gives you a sneak-peak of the central Olympic Park where the main venues are being built for the 2012 Olympics. The pace of work is ferocious, so there's plenty to see.

If you're interested in the Olympic site, you might want to check out the Lower Lea - Hackney Wick to Limehouse Basin walk on Saturday, part of the Winter Wanders events.

"Park and pass Fish Island to reach Old Ford Lock. A diversion provides a panoramic view of the Olympic Stadium and a Bowback channel leads to Britain's oldest tidemill at Three Mills. The Limehouse Cut takes the walk to the navigation's River Thames entry at Limehouse Dock."

Category: Urban Amble - Special walk - Under 5 Miles
Meet At: 13:00
Meeting Point: Hackney Wick Station
Nearest Tube Station: Highbury and Islington (take North London Line to Hackney Wick)
Finish: Limehouse Station 4.5 miles, approx 2.5 hours

If you want to get still closer, and more of a work out, you could always apply for the Newham London Run and be part of the first run in the Olympic Park!"
- Miss Alice

* Photo by suburbanslice, used under Creative Commons, with thanks.