How to Have a Great Afternoon in Stratford City

What was once a derelict wasteland has now become a bustling hub… Stratford was regenerated for the London 2012 Olympics as part of the Stratford City Development project to give the area a facelift. Now, it is home to a variety of sports complexes, Westfields Stratford City, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. So, this area is a lot more than just the Jubilee Line’s terminal point. After one of my friends recommended Stratford, I decided to come and spend an afternoon here…

Tired of Shepherds Bush? Come to Westfields Stratford City instead

If you usually do your shopping at Westfields Shepherds Bush, why not have a change, and come here instead? It’s the fourth largest shopping mall in the UK, and one of the largest urban malls in Europe. Every possible shop you can think of is most likely here, so it was very difficult to decide which store was my favourite.

There are sportswear stores, designer brands, watch boutiques, and formal wear… Big names you’ll find here include Rolex, Apple, and even a mini IKEA, just to name a few. And of course, don’t forget to go to the LEGO store too! Compared to Westfields Shepherds Bush, this mall had a lot more places to eat. So ultimately, I’d suggest coming here to eat out instead of going to Shepherds Bush.

Hire Santander Cycles at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

When this park opened in 2012, it was initially called the Olympic Park. Later on, the name was changed to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. This park spans across parts of Stratford, Bow, Leyton, and Hackney. It’s home to the Olympic Village, and famous stadiums but not limited to London Stadium, the Lee Valley VeloPark, and the London Aquatics Centre… But for this post, I will only be talking about the section of the park in Stratford.  

During the summer months, the park is an ideal place to come with your family and friends. There’s loads of nature trails to walk along by the water, and an abundance of green spaces, making it the perfect spot to relax. You can hire the Santander Cycles for the day as well, and cycle along the pathways near London Stadium too. You can also see the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in its full glory too.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit aka the Jalebi Tower

The ArcelorMittal Orbit was constructed after the Mayor of London (Boris Johnson at the time) wanted to construct a landmark to commemorate London 2012. It is one of the tallest pieces of public art in the UK, standing at 114.5m. And it certainly is a sight to behold! It’s only when you see it up close you can truly appreciate the complexity of it. The woven, complex spirals of orange steel is a reflection of how much effort must have gone into its design and construction. At night, the tower glows fluorescent orange, which was why I call this the Jalebi Tower as a joke.

This sculpture is also home to the world’s longest Slide (178m long), which is ideal for thrill seekers! And there’s even an observatory tower at the top too. And the whole experience lasts only 40 seconds, which hopefully will be one of the most memorable experiences of your visit… For anyone who’s been on The Slide, I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.

The Location of Stratford City

Stratford City is located in East London, in the Borough of Newham. You can easily get here via the Central and Jubilee lines on the London Underground, but this isn’t the most ideal route. The Central Line is one of the busiest lines, so as you can imagine, it gets really crowded. Not to mention that it also gets stuffy on hot days too.

As well as the Tube, it’s served by multiple train links including the DLR, London Overground, National Rail, and even Crossrail. These routes are probably better, especially during the summer when you can avoid that crowded, stuffy tube line. As well as train links, there are also several bus routes you can take.

Verdict

Overall, if you ever find yourself in East London, don’t forget to pay a visit to Stratford City. There are so many different things to do here, whether it’s shopping, trying out a new sports activity, or cycling around the green spaces here… As well as Stratford City, don’t forget to visit North Greenwich and Canary Wharf which are only a few stops away on the Jubilee Line.

I really enjoyed coming here, because of its Olympic heritage, which was a really exciting occasion. My favourite sport of London 2012 had to be the track cycling. What was your favourite Olympic sport? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Directions to Stratford City: