Hotels in E15

The focus of Stratford's fortunes is of Olympic proportions: it's not just expected to jump over a few hurdles but to pole vault over the bar with metres to spare. Throwing money at the problem is obviously speeding up the area's regeneration tenfold but by summer 2012, there needs to be an all-singing all-dancing Olympic Park fit for 180,000 spectators a day - not to mention the 'Village' for the athletes - and all the shops, bars, restaurants, hotels and transport links that go with such an undertaking. Waitrose has already signed up to be in the new Stratford City complex, but let's not pretend that all good things about E15 are a result of its Olympic gold. There's a buzzing cultural quarter next to the existing shopping centre, where the restored Victorian Theatre Royal Stratford East, contemporary arts venue Stratford Circus and charming Stratford East Picturehouse are based. After the Summer Games, the Olympic Stadium will be taken over by West Ham FC, who beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in their bid to make Stratford their new home. More