Holiday apartment in Newham: Culture, nature and The Line

Newham combines extensive parkland, striking architecture, cultural and sporting attractions with waterside paths and insights into the history of the borough. This contrast is particularly diverse in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and along The Line.

Nature and open spaces

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park covers hundreds of acres and includes peaceful green spaces, canals, landscaped gardens and fountains. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is Anish Kapoor’s red lattice tower. Its viewing platform offers 360-degree views; it is also home to the world’s highest and longest tunnel slide. From the summit, visitors can enjoy views across London and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Beckton Meadows features more than two acres of wildflowers and grasses, a butterfly garden and the accessible Queen Elizabeth Memorial Pathway. The site is opposite Beckton Park DLR station. Beckton District Park offers a cycle path, a lake, a tree trail and woodland areas. In addition, Cody Wilds extends as a one-kilometre-long wildlife corridor from Cody Dock to Bow Locks. Newham’s parks also feature outdoor fitness equipment, walking paths, natural areas and playgrounds.

Culture

V&A East Museum explores across five floors how creativity changes the world and features galleries and exhibitions. It houses more than 500 objects from different centuries and cultures. The museum is approximately a 15- to 20-minute walk from Stratford’s main railway and Underground stations. In Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Sadler’s Wells East has a 550-seat theatre and presents dance ranging from hip-hop and ballet to kathak and krumping.

Brick Lane Music Hall presents traditional and newly developed music hall shows with dinner, afternoon tea or dancing. The Colours of Newham Mural Art Trail is a self-guided route through Newham. Large-scale murals and creative lighting reflect local stories, heritage and culture.

Paths and history

The Line connects Newham, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich along the Greenwich Meridian between Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and The O2 on the Greenwich Peninsula. The free outdoor route brings together public art, nature and heritage. It is free, open to the public and suitable for walkers, cyclists, families and birdwatchers.

The Royal Docks are a waterside area and a growing cultural destination in Newham, in east London. At Cody Dock, the industrial history of the Lea Valley is explored through boat tours, educational programmes, a heritage pavilion and an industrial history archive. Cody Dock offers tailored environmental and heritage boat tours for groups of all ages and sizes.

Sport and water

London Stadium offers a 60-minute tour with access to West Ham United’s dressing room, the players’ tunnel, pitch-side areas and panoramic views. Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre offers tennis lessons as well as indoor and outdoor court hire. The centre also has two world- and Olympic-standard hockey pitches and hosts international matches.

London Aquatics Centre is a ten-minute walk from Stratford station. It offers family swimming, lane swimming, diving, lessons for children and adults, as well as community swimming activities. Facilities include two 50-metre pools and a dedicated diving pool with diving platforms from 1 to 10 metres. London Aquatics Centre was designed by architect Zaha Hadid.

More local pages: Stratford, East Ham. More destinations: Hillingdon, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, Hammersmith And Fulham, City Of London.

Back to the main travel overview: Greater London.