A Day In Stratford London

A Day in Stratford: Canals, Culture, and Cool Vibes

Let's begin our day with a gentle stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the station. The canals that snake through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park offer a peaceful retreat. The old industrial waterways have been beautifully restored, and the paths along them are flat and easily accessible, perfect for seniors or those using a wheelchair. It’s a place that’s alive with activity, and not just on land! For the adventurous, there are water sports on offer, or for a more leisurely pace, you can enjoy a canal ride on a passenger boat. You can even hire a boat to explore at your own speed!

It’s on the canal that we can have a meal or dinner with a nice beer, taking in the serene view. A fantastic spot for this is Crate Brewery, located right on the canal. It’s a repurposed old factory building with a fantastic riverside beer garden, serving up craft beer and some seriously good pizza. Another excellent choice is No.90 Bar & Kitchen, a big, airy bar with a massive terrace right on the water, offering a great space to relax and watch the world go by.

After we've fuelled up, it's time for some culture. The Olympic Park is now home to a new cultural quarter, and a key highlight is the Victoria and Albert storage rooms, now known as V&A East Storehouse. This is a place that brings to life the museum's incredible collection in a new way. It's an accessible and engaging experience that's brilliant for families, as the format is designed to be interactive and fun. You can get up close and personal with a huge range of objects, from fashion to furniture, and it’s a brilliant way to explore history and art in a more hands-on way.

For those who fancy a different kind of cultural hit, there’s always the option of catching a show. Sadler’s Wells Theatre has a presence in Stratford, offering a new space for incredible dance performances. It's a fantastic, state-of-the-art building with excellent accessibility throughout. Even if you don't catch a show, just walking past and seeing the building itself is a treat.

Of course, no guide to Stratford would be complete without mentioning the shopping. For those who are into that, Westfield Stratford City is a mecca. This huge, modern shopping centre is a great place to wander, and it's also incredibly wheelchair-friendly with wide aisles and plenty of lifts. It’s a great spot for families, too, with a huge cinema and a ton of options for food. It’s also where you can get a glorious ice cream. Seek out one of the numerous kiosks and ice cream houses around the park and in Westfield for a perfect sugar fix.

And all of this is set against the backdrop of one of London’s greatest success stories: the 2012 Olympic regeneration. The area was completely transformed from a former industrial wasteland into a stunning park and vibrant urban space. The striking red lattice of the ArcelorMittal Orbit stands tall as a reminder of that moment in time. You can go up for incredible views from the viewing platform or even take a ride on the tallest tunnel slide in the world! It’s a fully accessible experience, with lifts to get you to the top. As a final famous fact about the area, Stratford is also the birthplace of renowned playwright, William Shakespeare!

It's a place where you can see the past, present, and future of London all in one day.

Key Locations & Practical Information

• ArcelorMittal Orbit
  • What it is: A 114.5-meter-high sculpture and observation tower with the tallest tunnel slide in the world.
  • Accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible via lifts.
  • Website: https://www.arcelormittalorbit.com/
• V&A East Storehouse
  • What it is: A new cultural space bringing to life the museum's collections.
  • Accessibility: All areas of the V&A East Storehouse are wheelchair accessible.
  • Website: https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/va-east
• Crate Brewery
  • What it is: A craft brewery and pizza restaurant with a lovely canalside beer garden.
  • Address: White Building, Unit 7 Queen's Yard, London E9 5EN
  • Accessibility: The beer garden and ground floor are generally accessible.
  • Website: https://cratebrewery.com/
• No.90 Bar & Kitchen
  • What it is: A canalside bar with a large terrace, serving food and drinks.
  • Address: 90 Main Yard, Wallis Rd, London E9 5LN
  • Accessibility: The bar and terrace are wheelchair accessible.
  • Website: https://www.number90bar.co.uk/
• Westfield Stratford City
  • What it is: A huge shopping centre with a wide range of shops, restaurants, and a cinema.
  • Accessibility: Excellent, with lifts and ramps throughout.
  • Website: https://uk.westfield.com/stratfordcity
• Closest Tube & Rail:
  • Stratford Station (Jubilee Line, Central Line, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth Line, and National Rail). This is the main hub for the area and is a short, accessible walk to all the key locations in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

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