Stratford

Ever since the Olympic Games were held here, ethnically diverse Stratford has been quickly establishing itself as the new thriving cultural and entertainment centre of the East End. The newly built Olympic park that is home to some of London’s most impressive sporting arenas and the recently opened Westfield Stratford City, Europe’s largest shopping centre, have transformed the suburb into an exciting area that offers unmatched variety of cultural and sports entertainment to locals and visitors alike. 

Stratford quickly grew in popularity from a rather obscure and overpopulated area to the vibrant venue where the 2012 Olympic Games were held at the newly built Olympic Park. The park is home to the Olympic Village and the Olympic stadium that hosted the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies,  as well as a wide range of brand-new world-class sporting arenas and facilities – the London Aquatics centre with its three breathtaking Olympic-sized swimming pools, the Velodrome with its impressive variety of track cycling facilities, and the 12 000 seat basketball arena to mention but a few.

The quirkiest and most unusual construction here, though is the ArcelorMittal Orbit, a 115 metre observational tower with strikingly avant-garde design that gives visitors an opportunity to see the entire park from a bird’s eye view. Built as part of the Olympic Park project, and inspired by the Eiffel Tower, the impressive structure is the tallest piece of artwork in the London public space. Although it hasn’t overshadowed the London Eye in popularity, it does offer impressive views over East London. Now that the games are over, the park is expected to reopen to the public in 2013 as a multi-purpose venue hosting anything from sports to music events, and offering sporting and entertainment facilities to locals and visitors.

One of the biggest allures in Stratford is Westfield Stratford City, that bears the title of the largest shopping centre in Europe. With well over 300 shopping outlets to help you clad yourself from top to toe or furnish your entire house, Westfield Stratford can easily compete with Oxford Street. Brand names vary from high-street to luxury, promising to spoil visitors for choice. The fun at Stratford city does not stop with shopping, though. Dozens of popular chain-food outlets and independent restaurants and cafes cater to all tastes. You can indulge your senses with gourmet delights, have a burger on the go, or take the time to sample dishes from all corners of the world. Nearly every cuisine is represented at one of the numerous bars and restaurants. The venue houses a number of attractive leisure facilities, among which a huge luxury casino, a large bowling centre, and the largest VUE cinema in the United Kingdom equipped with 17 screens. 

Apart from all the large venues that opened doors here in the last couple of years, Stratford also boasts a variety of other established cultural centres. Stratford Circus is the area’s leading performing arts venue. Visitors can attend music concerts, enjoy theatrical performances or test their artistic skills by enrolling for dancing or performing classes. There is plenty going on here, with a variety of events and activities offered to both adults and children, while prices are kept moderate allowing everyone to attend.

Housed in an opulent late-Victorian building, the Theatre Royal Stratford puts on the best theatrical performances in the East End. The venue has become famous for supporting up-and-coming artistic talent from diverse backgrounds with the result being an exciting programme of groundbreaking drama, comedy and musicals. The venue hosts a wide range of performances beside theatre, so that whenever you pop in you should be able to enjoy live music, stand-up comedy or literary readings. 

Once an overpopulated, industrial suburb, today Stratford is a wonderland of entertainment and amusements in the heart of east London. Whether it is shopping, dining, sports or art you seek to experience, the variety of offers is unrivalled. With the expected reopening of the Olympic park to the public, Stratford is likely to take the crown off from the West End as the most exciting and diverse London area.