My Ten Things To Do In Stratford East London showcases the exciting E15 and E20 locations. After undergoing a significant facelift for the 2012 Olympics, this area is home to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the gigantic Westfield Stratford City Mall. Along the banks of the River Lee opposite Hackney Wick, you’ll find plenty of buzzy bars and eateries. The original part of Stratford Town Centre has some interesting historic buildings like the Theatre Royal Stratford and Old Town Hall. Set aside an entire day to explore this incredible part of East London in the Borough of Newham.
My Ten Things To Do In Stratford East London List:
1. Hang out in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
2. Whizz down the Anish Kapoor ArcelorMittal Orbit Slide
3. Attend a concert or sporting event at the London Stadium
4. Get fit with a sporting activity at one of the swimming pools, gyms or cycling tracks
5. Experience great things at the new East Bank development
6. Stroll along the scenic River Lee/Lea canal paths
7. Stop off for food at a canalside bar or eatery
8. Dine on the 120-year-old Dutch barge
9. Shop, dine and watch a movie at Westfield Stratford City
10. See historical buildings in Stratford Town Centre
My Favourite Ten Things Do In Stratford East London
- Hang out in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and soak up the atmosphere. With parklands, playgrounds, walking routes and waterways, you can spend a few hours or an entire day socialising with friends and family in the Park for free. The Greenway is a great walk giving you excellent views across the Park. For fun, hire a swan pedalo which you’ll find near the Aquatics Centre.
2. Whizz down the ArcelorMittal Orbit Slide for a thrilling experience you’ll never forget. Those braving the helter-skelter slide will enjoy the twelve twists and turns as they zoom from top to bottom. Others may want to take the lift to admire the breathtaking views from the 80m high viewing platform. At the very least, you’ll want to take pictures of the iconic red lattice sculpture by Anish Kapoor.
3. Attend a concert or sporting event at the London Stadium. It was formerly the Olympic Stadium but is now home to West Ham United Football Club and UK Athletics. Book a guided tour if you want to find out more about this impressive stadium. Abba lovers will enjoy the digital concert at the-built Abba Voyage Arena.
4. Get fit with a sporting activity at one of the pools, gyms or tracks. Swim at the Aquatics Centre designed by Zaha Hadid, it has two 50m pools and a 25m diving pool. If you want a gym, play handball or try fencing, head to the Copper Box Arena. Cycle on the track, race on the road circuit, or try the mountain bike trails or the BMX track at the Lee Valley VeloPark.
5. Experience great things at East Bank, a culture and education district spread over three sites at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The V&A Museum and Saddler’s Wells Theatre are currently under development.
6. Stroll along the River Lee canal path to admire the beautiful barges. Across the banks, you’ll see colourful street art and canalside bars/eateries at Hackney Wick. If you want to get into the water, hire a canoe. The River Lea cuts through inside the Olympic Park.
7. Stop off for food at a canalside bar or eatery. Hackney Bridge features a street food hall, workspace, studios, and independent shops. At Here East (an innovative hub where tech and creative people work), you’ll find Mother, The Breakfast Club, Randy’s Wing Bar, Grotto Trattoria and more.
8. Dine at Barge East, the 120-year-old Dutch barge. The floating restaurant sits alongside their gardens, where they select ingredients to create your meal. Nearby boats sell burgers and ice creams.
9. Hang out at the Westfield Stratford City Mall, where you can shop, dine, catch a movie and go bowling. Shops include fashion, beauty, homeware, furniture, supermarkets and an Apple store. There are plenty of options for lunch, dinner or snacks from the chain eateries.
10. Explore the hidden gems of the original Stratford Town Centre to get an idea of what the area was like before the nearby regeneration. The Theatre Royal Stratford East is in a beautiful building dating to 1884, with a statue of Director Joan Littlewood in front. Seek out the Grade II Listed Old Town Hall by architect John Giles, built-in 1869. Raise a glass in King Edward VII pub, a Grade II listed building. Opposite the pub is St John’s Church, built on a site previously a Forest Prison incarcerating those committing offences against the Royal Forest of Waltham. For something more modern, seek out the Roof East Bar and Cinema on top of the multistorey car park opposite the station entrance.
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Ten Things To Do In Stratford East London Information
I hope you enjoy your visit to Stratford and the surrounding areas because it’s an exciting part of London for those living in the capital or visiting. Everything I’ve mentioned is within walking distance. Stratford has excellent public transport links with Train Stations, the Docklands Light Railway, Underground (Elizabeth, Central, Jubilee) and Overground. While in the area, you should also explore Fish Island, Hackney Wick, Wick Woodland and Hackney Marshes. Beautiful Victoria Park and Victoria Park Village are beyond Hackney Wick.
Read my posts to discover more interesting things to do in the area:
Ten Things To Do In Hackney Wick London
Hackney Wick East London Guide
Ten Things To Do On Fish Island
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. Please check that the places I referenced in this article are still in business before you visit to avoid disappointment.
