Olympic Stadium In Pictures

London 2012 Olympic Stadium

The centre-point of the Games - London 2012's beating heart, if you will - is the imperious 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, billed as the most sustainable major sports arena ever built, which will host all athletic events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

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The venue

London 2012 Olympic Stadium

During the Games, there will be 25,000 permanent seats in the lower tier, and a temporary lightweight steel and concrete upper tier will boast a further 55,000 seats. A temporary seating structure such as this has never been attempted before. Spectators reach the 'island' site from five bridges that cross the stadium's surrounding waterways, which at night time will reflect the 14 triangular stanchions of floodlights that shine down upon the interior.

Under construction

Made from a quarter of the steel that built its equivalent for Beijing 2008, the £537m Olympic Stadium also features low-carbon concrete made from industrial waste, while the top ring was built using surplus gas pipes. In short, although perhaps not as visually appealing as the "Bird's Nest" in Beijing, the whole vast structure is testament to London 2012's sustainability and environmental aspirations.

From an aerial perspective

Preparation for the opening ceremony

Specialising in aerial photography since 1991, Jason Hawkes has produced over 40 aerial photographic books for the likes of the BBC, Random House and Harper Collins. Taking to the sky in a helicopter, he snapped these impressive photos of the Olympic Stadium, showcasing its unique structure and preparations for the Opening Ceremony on July 27th.

Sporting events

The Olympic Stadium will stage the London 2012 opening and closing ceremonies. The opening ceremony will see artistic director, Danny Boyle, transform the stadium into a British countryside - complete with meadows, fields, rivers and a number of farmyard animals. As well as the ceremonies, the stadium will also host the iconic Olympic Athletic and Paralympic Athletic events.

Olympic Athletics

3rd August - 11th August

100m
200m
400m
800m
1,500m
5,000m
10,000m
3,000m steeplechase
110m hurdles
400m hurdles
High jump
Pole vault
Long jump
Triple jump
Shot put
Discus throw
Hammer throw
Javelin throw
Decathlon
Heptathlon
4x100m relay
4x400m relay

Paralympic Athletics

31st August - 8th September

100m
200m
400m
800m
1,500m
5,000m
High jump
Long jump
Triple jump
Shot put
Discus throw
Javelin throw
Club throw
4x100m relay
4x400m relay

Nearby Food and Drink

Bistrotheque

The Olympic Stadium is located within the Olympic Park, Stratford. Even though the park isn't located within central London, there are numerous restaurants and bar venues nearby:

Restaurants

Forman's Fish Island

7 minute walk
Best of British menu devised by Lloyd Hardwick

Bistrotheque

Bethnal Green - 2 tube stops from Stratford, via the Central line
Minimalist warehouse chic restaurant with a great brunch menu

King Eddie's

20 minute walk
An east-end style gastropub with a traditional and affordable menu

Nightlife/Pubs

The Britannia

24 minute walk
Large pub garden, jukebox and laidback atmosphere

Pub on the Park

London Fields station - 1 stop from Stratford, via National Rail
Large garden and extensive beer menu, with traditional bitters and run-of-the-mill lagers

Nearby Attractions

Westfield Stratford

Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre

10 minute walk
This 1.9 million square foot shopping mall has been billed as the 'gateway' to London's Olympic Park. With 300 high street shops, 50 or so restaurants, a 14-screen cinema, a bowling alley and the UK's largest casino, it's an impressive entertainment venue that's located just minutes away from the Olympic Park.

Shopping

Roman Road Market

Mile End Tube - 1 stop from Stratford, via London Overground
Situated on the oldest known trade route in Britain, this market offers crafts, antiques, food, clothing and more

Entertainment

Hackney PictureHouse

Hackney Central - 1 stop from Stratford, via London Overground
Seven-screen cinema with three bars - including Hackney Attic which hosts music and comedy evenings

Theatre Royal Stratford East

18 minute walk
450-seat theatre that showcases new writing and ethnically diverse plays

Leisure

The Greenway

7 minute walk
A flat, almost continuous and straight traffic-free walking and cycling route that carves through East London at a high level

All Star Lanes

10 minute walk
Bowling alley located within Westfield Stratford Centre

Victoria Park

Mile End Tube - 1 stop from Stratford, via the Central Line
The city's first public park boasts picturesque lakes and an Old English Garden

Travel

There are numerous options when travelling to the Olympic Stadium. Driving is not advised due to high levels of traffic and restricted parking - limited, pre-booked parking will be available for disabled spectators. Public transport options include:

Javelin Train

Delivering passengers from St Pancras to Stratford International in just seven minutes, the Olympic Javelin high-speed train shuttle service will take up to an estimated 25,000 travellers per hour.

Overground Stations

National Rail, Docklands Light Railway and London Overground will run trains to the following stations:

London Underground

Stratford - Jubilee and Central Lines
West Ham - District, Hammersmith & City, and Jubilee Lines

Walking and Cycling

Greenway walking and cycling routes will connect the Olympic Park with numerous locations - including Victoria Path, Lee Valley North and Epping Forest. The walking routes are step free and there will be free cycle parking provided at the Eton Manor Transport Hub, Greenway Transport Hub and Victoria Park.