From the crackle of the last firework in the Beijing Olympics to the final splutter of the Olympic torch going out in China, global attention is now on London.
2012 will welcome millions of people to the UK for an unforgettable experience at the London 2012 Olympics! If you are planning a trip to the games make sure you book flights to London [http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/uk/lond/cheapest-flights-from-united-kingdom-to-london.html] well in advance. The vast numbers of attractions in London, apart from the Olympic events, are expected to benefit both during and after the games. With the transport system being updated to ensure London is even more accessible and smaller in travelling terms; tourists will find it easier to traverse the city packing in as much of the London experience as possible!
BEFORE
The Olympic Tour
This is the third time England's capital city has hosted the Olympics and walking tours are already very popular, taking visitors to see the Olympic Park, including close-up views of the construction of the main Olympic Stadium as well as the Aquatics Centre and the towers of the Olympic Village. Tours begin at the Bromley-by-Bow underground station, in a part of the city that few Londoners, and fewer tourists, ever visit. But within a short walk from the tube station is a fascinating area of Victorian and Georgian industrial heritage. First stop is Three Mills Island, on the River Lea.
Three Mills Island
The island gets its name from the impressive and unusual tidal mills that stand here, one of them thought to be the biggest tidal mill in the world. The island is also home to 3 Mills Studios, the biggest working film studios in Inner London. Here TV shows like the first two series of Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen and London's Burning have been mad, and motion pictures including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Brick Lane, and Enduring Love have also been filmed. Musicians including Amy Winehouse, Phil Collins, Pulp, Oasis and Robbie Williams have all either rehearsed or made music videos at 3 Mills Studios.
Olympics Park
The highlight of the guided walks is naturally the visit to the Olympics Park, where a special visitor centre and viewing platform gives an impressive vista. Having left behind the industrial architecture of Newham (the Olympic Games' host borough in London), visitors get to see the modern industrial engineering going in to the main Olympics stadium and surrounding buildings. It is a vast and breath-taking project, working to make this the greenest Olympic Games ever held. A huge amount of recycling is taking place and the River Lea is benefiting from a clean-up too.
Tickets
Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games go on sale in 2011 where eight million tickets will be available, with another two million for the Paralympic Games. Subject to availability, tickets will remain on sale until the start of every event. Each ticket includes free travel on public transport in London for the day of the event, to encourage spectators to use the transport system and take in the festivities throughout the city. There will also be free events, including Road Cycling, a Triathlon and the London Marathon. These events will take place on the streets of London, where spectators can line the route to cheer on the athletes. Giant screens at Live Sites across the UK will also show the sporting actions so you won't miss anything!
DURING
Olympic Venues
Most big-ticket events will take place in the Olympic Park but some medals will be competed for in more unusual settings, many that are open to the public. Gymnasts and basketball finalists will be in the O2 Arena, badminton contestants will aim for glory in the North Greenwich Arena 2. Beach Volleyball will be held in Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall, a beach ball's toss from Downing Street and next to St. James's Park. Road Cycling takes to Regent's Park, while football matches will kick off in Wembley Stadium. Triathlon contestants and swimmers in the 10km Open Water event will make a splash in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Lovely Greenwich Park, London's oldest, is the venue for Equestrian events and the modern Pentathlon. Tennis can really only be held at one venue'Wimbledon, but rowers, canoeists and kayakers will be heading off to Eton Dorney, near Windsor Castle.
Where to Stay
With more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from, every visitor should be able to find a room for the games whether looking for budget sleeps to luxury hotels, although, again, it is best to book as early as possible in order to avoid disappointment. Most hotels are concentrated in the heart of the West End, making it easy to explore London's shops, restaurants and theatres on foot. Excellent transport links make it easy for visitors staying in central London to get to the venues, with the Javelin service making the journey from King's Cross to the Olympic Park in just seven minutes.
Where to Eat - Olympics Park
From the viewing platform a salmon-pink building stands out in the distance. This is the new restaurant of H. Forman and Son, the oldest fish smokery in London, in business since 1905. Unfortunately their factory was right where planners wanted to build the Olympic Stadium. By moving 150 metres to just outside the Olympic Park and overlooking the River Lea, diners here now have one of the best views of the Olympic stadium as they tuck into their smoked salmon. Of course there is no shortage of places to dine in London so take your pick from fancy restaurants to a quick bite.
AFTER
After the Games
Sustainability lies at the heart of the London Olympics, with strong emphasis on easing climate change and encouraging healthy living. Plans are in the pipeline to put London's Olympic venues to good use after the games to avoid the usual herd of white elephants. The Olympic Park itself will become a vast urban park, the largest in Europe, with an emphasis on preserving the local environment. Olympics sports facilities are to be converted for the use of sports clubs and allotment gardens, destroyed during the creation of the Olympic Park, will be restored while the East End will find itself equipped with a fantastic network of transport and improved local services.
2012 will welcome millions of people to the UK for an unforgettable experience at the London 2012 Olympics! If you are planning a trip to the games make sure you book flights to London [http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/uk/lond/cheapest-flights-from-united-kingdom-to-london.html] well in advance. The vast numbers of attractions in London, apart from the Olympic events, are expected to benefit both during and after the games. With the transport system being updated to ensure London is even more accessible and smaller in travelling terms; tourists will find it easier to traverse the city packing in as much of the London experience as possible!
BEFORE
The Olympic Tour
This is the third time England's capital city has hosted the Olympics and walking tours are already very popular, taking visitors to see the Olympic Park, including close-up views of the construction of the main Olympic Stadium as well as the Aquatics Centre and the towers of the Olympic Village. Tours begin at the Bromley-by-Bow underground station, in a part of the city that few Londoners, and fewer tourists, ever visit. But within a short walk from the tube station is a fascinating area of Victorian and Georgian industrial heritage. First stop is Three Mills Island, on the River Lea.
Three Mills Island
The island gets its name from the impressive and unusual tidal mills that stand here, one of them thought to be the biggest tidal mill in the world. The island is also home to 3 Mills Studios, the biggest working film studios in Inner London. Here TV shows like the first two series of Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen and London's Burning have been mad, and motion pictures including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Brick Lane, and Enduring Love have also been filmed. Musicians including Amy Winehouse, Phil Collins, Pulp, Oasis and Robbie Williams have all either rehearsed or made music videos at 3 Mills Studios.
Olympics Park
The highlight of the guided walks is naturally the visit to the Olympics Park, where a special visitor centre and viewing platform gives an impressive vista. Having left behind the industrial architecture of Newham (the Olympic Games' host borough in London), visitors get to see the modern industrial engineering going in to the main Olympics stadium and surrounding buildings. It is a vast and breath-taking project, working to make this the greenest Olympic Games ever held. A huge amount of recycling is taking place and the River Lea is benefiting from a clean-up too.
Tickets
Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games go on sale in 2011 where eight million tickets will be available, with another two million for the Paralympic Games. Subject to availability, tickets will remain on sale until the start of every event. Each ticket includes free travel on public transport in London for the day of the event, to encourage spectators to use the transport system and take in the festivities throughout the city. There will also be free events, including Road Cycling, a Triathlon and the London Marathon. These events will take place on the streets of London, where spectators can line the route to cheer on the athletes. Giant screens at Live Sites across the UK will also show the sporting actions so you won't miss anything!
DURING
Olympic Venues
Most big-ticket events will take place in the Olympic Park but some medals will be competed for in more unusual settings, many that are open to the public. Gymnasts and basketball finalists will be in the O2 Arena, badminton contestants will aim for glory in the North Greenwich Arena 2. Beach Volleyball will be held in Horse Guard's Parade in Whitehall, a beach ball's toss from Downing Street and next to St. James's Park. Road Cycling takes to Regent's Park, while football matches will kick off in Wembley Stadium. Triathlon contestants and swimmers in the 10km Open Water event will make a splash in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Lovely Greenwich Park, London's oldest, is the venue for Equestrian events and the modern Pentathlon. Tennis can really only be held at one venue'Wimbledon, but rowers, canoeists and kayakers will be heading off to Eton Dorney, near Windsor Castle.
Where to Stay
With more than 100,000 hotel rooms to choose from, every visitor should be able to find a room for the games whether looking for budget sleeps to luxury hotels, although, again, it is best to book as early as possible in order to avoid disappointment. Most hotels are concentrated in the heart of the West End, making it easy to explore London's shops, restaurants and theatres on foot. Excellent transport links make it easy for visitors staying in central London to get to the venues, with the Javelin service making the journey from King's Cross to the Olympic Park in just seven minutes.
Where to Eat - Olympics Park
From the viewing platform a salmon-pink building stands out in the distance. This is the new restaurant of H. Forman and Son, the oldest fish smokery in London, in business since 1905. Unfortunately their factory was right where planners wanted to build the Olympic Stadium. By moving 150 metres to just outside the Olympic Park and overlooking the River Lea, diners here now have one of the best views of the Olympic stadium as they tuck into their smoked salmon. Of course there is no shortage of places to dine in London so take your pick from fancy restaurants to a quick bite.
AFTER
After the Games
Sustainability lies at the heart of the London Olympics, with strong emphasis on easing climate change and encouraging healthy living. Plans are in the pipeline to put London's Olympic venues to good use after the games to avoid the usual herd of white elephants. The Olympic Park itself will become a vast urban park, the largest in Europe, with an emphasis on preserving the local environment. Olympics sports facilities are to be converted for the use of sports clubs and allotment gardens, destroyed during the creation of the Olympic Park, will be restored while the East End will find itself equipped with a fantastic network of transport and improved local services.
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