Length: 5.5 km or 8.5 km or 9.3 km
Meet at 18.30 hours prompt outside Stratford Station (Mainline, Overground, Underground, DLR), next to ‘Robert’, a heritage locomotive displayed on the station forecourt on the Town Centre side (i.e.: not the Westfield side)! [see the pdf directions for how to get there from your platform w/o fault]
This walk follows a meandering route through Stratford City, a development preceding the idea of London applying to hold Olympic Games, and including the very large Westfield Shopping Centre, as well as through the neighbouring Olympic Park and past its surviving Olympic venues, one of the largest urban parks created in Western Europe for more than 150 years, and designed to enrich and preserve the local environment, by restoring wetland habitats and planting native species of plants along the River Lea and the Bow Backwaters. It is still a work in progress, in its continued transition from sports venue to public park, with many new neighbourhoods and amenities added since the 2012 Games.
This is combined with a detour through parts of the adjacent former industrial areas now famous for artists’ spaces and independent micro-businesses, but undergoing speedy regeneration: Hackney Wick (South) and Fish Island. These areas are still noticeably shaped by their former mix of (often polluting) industries in this complicated space, dominated by railways, canals, locks, river arms, channels, flood plains.
Refreshments: Plenty of options en route, for details check the pdf.
For a detailed route map, gpx/kml file, photos and pdf directions click here. T=short.27
1 comment:
6 walkers met at the agreed point and made their way through the shopping masses to the other side of the Westfield site, from where we enjoyed a quiet remainder of the walk through the park, lit by the near full moon. It was cold but without a wind, so quite bearable while keeping moving. Some of the buildings were nicely lit up, especially the Arcelor Mittal Tower (in bright red). En route and by chance we bumped into another walker, who had misssed the start by exiting Stratford Station to the wrong side (there's always one).
Across to Hackney Wick (some had never done this walk before), where we investigated some of the new builds and some backyards as well. Food and drink at Crate Brewery was our plan, but they were full inside and all the outside tables with functioning heaters were occupied, so we went to Howling Hops Brewery next door, who had Sri Lankan streetfood for sale (and their own beers). Very enjoyable.
On to Fish Island and back to Stratford, still nicely illuminated by the moon.
There, (amazingly) everyone agreed to go to Tap East for another bevvie.
A very fine evening walk in similarly fine company.
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