Photo by Julia Sadowska on Unsplash
You may remember it from the glittering opening ceremony directed by Danny Boyle, which featured British icons such as Queen Elizabeth II, James Bond and Mr Bean.
Or perhaps you remember it from Super Saturday, when Team GB won three gold medals in just 44 minutes?
All that was way back in 2012 when the UK hosted the Olympic Games in London and it all took place on what, previously, had been a largely neglected, contaminated and post-industrial district.
It was, in the past, a part of the capital that even locals sought to avoid.
How times change.
The area around what is called Queen Elizabeth Park has since been transformed into a new community for up to 20,000 residents, shifting the centre of gravity of London eastwards.
The park was originally built for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games and was formerly called Olympic Park or London Olympic Park.
After the Games ended, developers converted some of the original buildings into commercial and residential places.
The park was set up to become a blueprint for innovative business that would inspire a generation of young people and transform the heart of East London.
Since the cheers of the four million London 2012 attendees have died down, the park has been busy delivering on these promises and, today, this sprawling site is a thriving business and cultural hub.
But this particular success story does not end there.
This thriving part of London is about to light up in 2025 – like the Olympics all over again – with yet more new, innovative developments all set to open in the coming 12 months.
This website has taken a look at some of them.
They include a brand new V&A storehouse and Sadler’s Wells 4th theatre while the ArcelorMittal Orbit’s new owners will install a zip wire from Anish Kapoor’s famous structure. The BBC, meanwhile, will be opening new music studios so visitors can watch orchestras live.
The V&A East Storehouse, opening at the end of May, is a unique new museum experience opening up the V&A collection to everyone.
As part of its study centre, the David Bowie Centre, due to open in September, is the new home of the rock icon’s archive, recently acquired by the V&A through the generosity of the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group.
For the first time, an archive of over 80,000 items, which traces Bowie’s creative processes as a musical innovator, cultural icon and advocate for self-expression and reinvention across his career, will be accessible to everyone.
The archive covers all aspects of his fascinating story, from Bowie’s iconic costumes and musical instruments to make-up, charts, stage models, personal notes and more.
Split into three separate zones, the centre will have a mix of atmospheric curated displays, audio visual installations and a media booth to view archive footage of Bowie. There will also be quieter study areas, for visitors who have booked in advance to view and encounter objects from the archive.
To develop the inaugural changing displays, curators consulted with 18–25-year-olds from the four Olympic boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s Elevate Legacy Youth Board. A series of rotating guest curators – including Bowie’s collaborators, experts and contemporary creatives – will also be invited to share their insights and perspectives on the archive.
Also launching this year in this booming cultural quarter in East London is the new Sadler’s Wells East, the company’s fourth venue, which will be a hub for creativity, with a 550-seat flexible theatre and six studios for creating and developing dance productions.
Sadler’s Wells East aims to support artist development and training, and the creation of new work and be a resource for the whole of the UK, offering a destination venue for dance companies around Britain to tour to the capital while also hosting the best work from international choreographers. Performances developed on the Stratford stage will tour the UK and the world, reaching new audiences.
A company spokesman said, “Being part of the community in Stratford is key for us, and Sadler’s Wells East will play a crucial role in the economic regeneration of the area. Our aspiration is that at least 50% of jobs created for our new venue will go to people from the four local boroughs – Hackney, Newham, Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets.”
The dance floor, a public performance space in the theatre’s large wrap-around foyer, will provide a platform to community groups and guest artists and be a space for all styles of dance.
Elsewhere on the Queen Elisabeth site, adventure giant Zip World will take over the operation of the ArcelorMittal Orbit. It will be its ninth location and its first in the Southeast of England since launching 11 years ago.
Zip World aims to invest £2.6 million in the ArcelorMittal Orbit, which, standing at 114.5 meters tall, is home to The Slide, the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide, where visitors can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour as they twist, curve, and turn 12 times while descending the 178-meter-long track.
For those seeking breathtaking views rather than high-speed thrills, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of London’s famous skyline and landmarks, including the Park’s iconic London Stadium and London Aquatics Centre, to Canary Wharf, the City of London and landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral, from the 80-meter-high Orbit Skyline viewing deck.
With 20 million annual visitors and 10,000 students residing within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the launch of Zip World London aims to complement the wide range of venues and experiences already on offer including concerts, sporting events and retail.
Andrew Hudson, Zip World CEO, said the move “will kick off a whole new era of excitement and adventure right in the heart of London.”
Culture vultures are not forgotten this year with news that BBC Music Studios is relocating to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Its new venue will feature modern recording facilities and will also be the home of the world-renowned BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and BBC Singers. It will host recording sessions and live performances across all genres from global stars to emerging talent.
A BBC spokesman said, “These facilities, alongside an extensive programme of learning and outreach projects and collaborations with partners in the cultural district, will contribute to establishing East London as a world destination for music.”
For those, including visitors from abroad, looking to get the very most of a visit here there are several world-class hotels to choose from – including Hyatt Regency and Hyatt House London Stratford.
So, as can be seen, the legacy of those 2012 Olympics continues to live on today on a site that was, back in the 19th century, one of the world’s earliest public parks.
Fast forward to 2025 and the park now provides an innovative blueprint for contemporary urban park design and is recognised as an exemplar of sustainable development for the 21st century.
A London tourism spokesman said, “Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a living legacy of the London 2012 Olympics. Its modern architecture, world-class sports facilities, and green spaces make it a versatile venue that benefits both Londoners and visitors alike.”
“Whether one is passionate about sports, architecture, or simply looking for a pleasant place to unwind, this Olympic park offers an enriching experience to all who visit.”
