ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower

Address: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2HP, United Kingdom

Website: https://www.orbitlondon.com

Hours: Typically Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm (closed Mondays; hours vary seasonally)

Admission: Adults from £17.50-£25 (general admission; slide experiences cost extra)

The ArcelorMittal Orbit is a 114.5 metre tall observation tower and public artwork in Stratford, east London, completed for the 2012 Olympic Park. It was commissioned for the London 2012 Olympics and carries the name of its steel sponsor, ArcelorMittal.

The structure provides elevated viewpoints over Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the River Thames and parts of central London from an enclosed observation platform near the top. Internal lifts and stair access bring visitors up through the red steel lattice to viewing areas and interpretive displays about the sculpture and the Games.

A separate commercial attraction is a tubular slide that descends the exterior of the tower; the slide is operated on limited dates and requires a separate ticket. The tower itself is notable for its twisting lattice form and for being the United Kingdom’s tallest sculpture.

Designed by sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor with structural engineer Cecil Balmond, the tower was commissioned as part of the legacy works for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and opened in 2012. The structure has since been maintained as a permanent landmark and visitor attraction operated under naming rights held by ArcelorMittal.

Sited in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, the Orbit stands close to the London Stadium and Stratford Underground and rail stations, in the London Borough of Newham in east London.

• Height: Reaches 114.5 metres in height, making it the tallest sculpture in the United Kingdom.
• Slide: A commercially run tunnel slide follows the exterior; it is sold as an add-on experience distinct from the observation visit.

What to See#

• Observation platform: Located at the south end of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the observation platform sits near the top of the structure and offers panoramic views across Stratford, the River Thames and central London on clear days.
• Tunnel slide: A tubular, enclosed slide added after the tower’s opening runs down the external structure; it is a commercially operated attraction and follows a serpentine route around the lattice.
• Steel lattice structure: The main structural element is a twisting lattice of red steel that forms the 114.5 metre tall sculpture and contains internal staircases and lifts for visitor access.

From central London, take the London Underground to Stratford station (Central and Jubilee lines) or Stratford International (DLR); the ArcelorMittal Orbit is a short walk through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from the station.

• Book online in advance-slots (especially for the slide) sell out during school holidays.
• Buy tickets for the Slide separately if interested; the slide is closed for maintenance periodically.
• Visit in late afternoon for softer light over the Olympic Park; the viewing platforms offer different perspectives than the photo ops on the plaza.