Things to do in Stratford

This park was a hive of activity during the 2012 Olympics and remains a hive of activity today.

The 560 acre sustainable site contains beautifully maintained areas of parkland and gardens where you can come and relax, stroll or have a picnic.

There are four trails to explore set out across the park, including the children’s adventures in the park trail, the art trail and the parkland and wildlife trail. Each trail provides the chance to explore different areas of the park in more detail, while enjoying the bustling wildlife habitats the park provides.

The waterways in and around the park have been restored and are now a vibrant feature. Hiring a pedalo offers a fun way to explore the Queen Elizabeth Park by water, costing £9 for an adult. Another way to explore the waterways is on a guided boat tour, taking in the wonderfully landscaped park while learning just how it was transformed. The tours last around 45 minutes and also cost £9 per adult.

With sports venues, plenty of food and drink options, plus playgrounds for the kids, there is plenty to entertain the family for the whole day within the Queen Elizabeth Park.

Within the grounds of the Queen Elizabeth Park you will find the world’s longest tunnel slide.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the UK’s tallest sculpture, a unique setting for this exhilarating tunnel slide. The looping sculpture was an iconic symbol of the London 2012 Olympic games.

The slide consists of 12 bends as you wind your way down the 178 meter slide. You can be sliding along at up to 15 mph, with the corkscrew style ending a final flourish to remember. As you slide down you will be able to catch glimpses of the park and the London skyline.

If you suffer with claustrophobia and do not fancy the fully enclosed tunnel slide, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is still worth a visit for the views. Lifts take you up to the 80 meter viewing platforms where you have stunning views across the park and on out across London. There are also stairs to access the platforms.

The slide is open all year round. You can buy a combined viewing platform and slide ticket for £16.50 if booked in advance, or £52 for a family ticket. The skyline viewing platform only ticket, without access to the slide, costs £11.50 in advance, or £32 for a family ticket.

For a cinema experience with a difference head to Roof East, where you can watch films with the London skyline as your spectacular backdrop.

Located on the roof of a multi-story car park, Roof East turns an otherwise unused space in to a unique urban setting.

You can watch the films from the comfy deckchairs provided, which can be adjusted to suit your height. You will be provided with state of the art wireless headphones to ensure you have a quality audio experience, without intrusion from surrounding noises.

You can order hot food, snacks and drinks from your mobile to be delivered to your seat, with hot food served until 8.30pm. Roof East is located on level 7 of the Stratford Centre car park and is accessible by public transport, with Stratford station opposite the car park.

Roof East is open through the summer months until 23rd September. Seats cost £15.95, or £18.95 with popcorn included.

Watch your children have the time of their lives as they allow their imagination to run wild in the story centre's immersive play areas.

Suitable for children up to the age of 11 years, you will have just as much pleasure watching them discover and create their own stories.

The Discover Children’s Story Centre is set around two floors, containing story worlds and a story garden. This is where your children’s imagination can come to the fore as they explore these immersive play spaces. With caves and hidden ships, a puppet castle and a story factory, the centre has something to enthral children up to 11 years of age.

Different exhibits through the year keeps the centre fresh and entertaining. Sessions cost £7.50 and last for two hours, on to which you can add an additional event such as one of the exhibitions. The centre also has an excellent children’s book shop as well as a cafe.

Since opening in 1884 the Theatre Royal has maintained a tradition of staging entertaining, thoughtful productions.

This is a community theatre at the heart of Stratford where such names as Dom Warrington, Barbara Windsor, Meera Syal and Sheila Hancock have graced the stage.

By 1953 the theatre had sadly become derelict until the arrival of the Theatre Group under the direction of Joan Littlewood. Since then this 450 seated theatre has built a reputation for creating bold, yet inclusive art, representing the diverse community of which it is a central hub.

The theatre has a program designed around all age groups, including youth theatre programs and the Theatre Royal’s seasonal twist on the traditional panto. The theatre is easy to reach, being within a five minute walk from Stratford station.

Concession prices for visitors under 26 years of age can start from £10. For a pre-show meal why not treat yourself to home-cooked Caribbean fusion style food served from the Stratford East bar.

If you ever fancied the chance to swim in an Olympic pool then here’s your opportunity. Architect Zaha Hadid’s design ensured the aquatic centre was a stunning venue for the London games.

Since 2014 the public have been able to swim in the aquatic centre, where some of the country’s top swimmers still train.

Anyone of any swimming ability is welcome to use the impressive facilities in the London aquatic centre. You must pre-book your session, but that is a minor issue for the chance to swim in one of the two 50 meter swimming pools and pretend you are about to claim your Olympic gold.

The centre offers a range of programs including lane swimming, family sessions and diving lessons for those who want to release their inner Tom Daley. If swimming is not for you there is also a state of the art 50 station gym above the pool, looking out over the Queen Elizabeth Park.

There are a range of membership options available, but standard non-member prices are £5.10 for off peak swimming sessions and £12 for use of the gym at any time of the day.

Ten pin bowling is great entertainment for the whole family. All Star Lanes is located in the Westfield shopping centre and has 14 lanes for hire.

There is an authentic retro feel to the venue as you are transported back to 50’s Americana.

Bowling is fun and an excellent social occasion. Don your bowling shoes at All Star Lanes and lose yourself to a slice of classic American culture. The venue’s bar plays its part too, with old style American cocktails and craft beers among the extensive range of drinks stocked.

You can also enjoy a meal at the All Star Lanes restaurant. Classic Mac ‘N’ Cheese costs £10.50, while a classic burger is £8. The Lanes Kitchen serves all your bowling favourites such as BBQ wings and Cajun halloumi fries.

A maximum of six people can bowl on one lane, with off-peak prices per game starting from £7.50 with shoes included. There are also bundle offers available, such as the Bowl, Drink and Dine experience which costs £30 per person and includes a two course meal.

This is another of the iconic London Olympic venues which is now open for the public to try the sports they cheered on in 2012.

The velopark offers the unique chance to try four types of cycling from one venue.

Ability is irrelevant here. From complete beginner to the elite, the Lee Valley velopark caters for all. You can turn your hand to track cycling, road racing, mountain biking or BMX racing. The Velopark has different courses for the different disciplines, and sessions to suit all abilities.

Prices vary across the disciplines and the level of experience the sessions are aimed toward. An unaccredited drop-in session on the track where you ride at your own pace costs from £10.50 for an hour, with any kit required additional. A learner session on the BMX course will cost from £15 with gloves an extra £3.