Olympic Orbit Slide Experience

With one of my blogs from last week being based on the London Athletics, hosted in the London stadium, I have discovered another point of interest, at the doorstep of the stadium itself. Voted as TimeOut London’s Number one thing to do in 2016, The Slide at the ArcelorMittal Orbit is one of the hottest quirky attractions for locals, tourists, and in particular, London’s thrill seekers.

 

So, you may be wondering, what exactly is this thing you call the ArcelorMittal Orbit? And you’d be right to be a little puzzled, as I myself only recently found out that this was the name of the unusual sculpture, based within the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. Better known as the Orbit tower, the masterpiece was designed by sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor and engineer Cecil Balmond. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is one of the most striking and enduring visual legacies of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its extraordinary looping structure has become a byword for design innovation and playful invention.

 

Made of 35,000 bolts and enough steel to make 265 double-decker buses, the ArcelorMittal Orbit offers extraordinary 20-mile views over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the London skyline. Steel was partly chosen as a building material for its infinite recyclability – 60% of the ArcelorMittal Orbit is made from recycled steel, including washing machines and used cars.

 

The ArcelorMittal Orbit stands tall as the UK’s tallest sculpture, part of the Olympic legacy that transformed East London, and a landmark in its own right, transfixing and delighting visitors with its offer of a unique view of the city. At first glance, you may not even notice the fact that there is actually a slide built into the tower, however this is the main excitement of it all for me! With your ticket, you’ll be given the rare opportunity to descend the world’s highest and, at 178m, the world’s longest tunnel slide, while travelling down the UK’s tallest public artwork, you’ll pass through light and dark sections with London’s dramatic skyscape whizzing by!

 

In the 40-second trip, you’ll circle around the ArcelorMittal Orbit a mind-spiralling 12 times as your body weaves its way through the famous loops and curves of the iconic structure, including a tight corkscrew section named the ‘bettfeder’ – after the German word for ‘bedspring’ – and end with a 50m straight run back down to earth!

 

In regards to tickets for this exclusive Stratford attraction, pricing is cheaper than what you’d expect considering the entertainment factor coming alongside the spectacular views of the beautiful city of London. This venue charges within £10.50 to £16.50, depending on the age of the visitor, meaning anyone is able to let their inner child out on this one of a kind slide! For more information on how to book your tickets and any other information on your visit, head over to http://arcelormittalorbit.com

 

You’ll be glad to know that one ticket will give you general access and also includes the slide experience, and the attraction is open daily from 10AM-7PM, with last entry being at 6:30PM. With this being said, I wouldn’t wait a second before booking a ticket or two for me and a friend, as this is definitely one of the hottest upcoming spontaneous London experiences, and is certainly not to be missed.

 

City Rooms.