In 2012 the Olympic Games are to be held in London, the third time England's capital city has hosted the Olympics. Walking tours with Blue Badge Tourist Guides are already popular, taking visitors to see the Olympic Park, including close-up views of the construction of the main Olympic Stadium as well as the Aquatics Centre and the towers of the Olympic Village.
Where to Find the London 2012 Olympics Walking Tour
Tours begin at the Bromley-by-Bow underground station, in a part of the city that few Londoners, and fewer tourists, ever visit. But within a short walk from the tube station is a fascinating area of Victorian and Georgian industrial heritage. First stop is Three Mills Island, on the River Lea (or Lee, both spellings are used.)
Three Mills Island
The island gets its name from the impressive and unusual tidal mills that stand here, one of them thought to be the biggest tidal mill in the world. The island is also home to 3 Mills Studios, the biggest working film studios in Inner London. Here TV shows like the first two series of Big Brother, The Mighty Boosh, Hell's Kitchen, and London's Burning have been made, and motion pictures including Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Brick Lane, and Enduring Love have also been filmed. Ken Loach and Mike Leigh have also filmed here. Musicians including Amy Winehouse, Phil Collins, Pulp, Oasis, Robbie Williams, and Victoria Beckham have all either rehearsed or made music videos at 3 Mills Studios.
The London 2012 Olympics Park
The highlight of the guided walks is naturally the visit to the Olympics Park, where a special visitor centre and viewing platform gives an impressive view. Having left behind the industrial architecture of Newham (the Olympic Games' host borough in London), visitors get to see the modern industrial engineering producing the main Olympics stadium and other buildings.
It is a vast and breathtaking project, where fleets of buses take workers around the site, and where they are working to make this the greenest Olympic Games ever held. A huge amount of recycling is taking place, the River Lea is benefiting from a clean-up, most of the materials are being brought in by rail or by water, and any lorries that leave the site must be thoroughly cleaned before they are allowed out of the gates. This reduces the dust and dirt on the streets, normally an unfortunate by-product of any building site.
Where to Eat near the 2012 London Olympics Park
From the viewing platform a salmon-pink building stands out in the distance. This is the new restaurant of H. Forman and Son, the oldest fish smokery in London, in business since 1905. Unfortunately their factory was right where planners wanted to build the Olympic Stadium. By moving 150 metres to just outside the Olympic Park and overlooking the River Lea, diners here now have one of the best views of the Olympic stadium as they tuck into their smoked salmon.
Blue Badge Tourist Guides
Blue Badge guides offer tours in over 30 languages in every part of Britain, not just in London. Many have specialist knowledge from Agriculture, Antiques, Archaeology, Architecture, and Art, through to the UK's most popular tourist spots such as York Minster, Wells, and Windsor. Before they can lead a 2012 London Olympics walking tour, guides must take a 10-day training course. Such is the popularity of the tours that 190 guides have taken this training, and tours to the London Olympics Park are available in a wide range of languages.
To find out more about Blue Badge Tourist Guides visit the official website of Blue Badge Tourist Guides in Britain, or the alternative Blue Badge Tourist Guides website.
London 2012 Olympics Guided Walking Tours
At the time of writing tours take place every Saturday and Sunday starting at 11am at Bromley-by-Bow underground station (which is on both the District and the Hammersmith and City tube lines). Tours cost £8 for adults, £5 for under-16s, seniors and other concessions. Payment is in cash only. To find out more about the tours and to reserve a place on a tour, visit the special Blue Badge site set up for the London Olympics: Guided Tours for 2012.
As well as for individuals, tours are also available for groups, schools and colleges, corporate clients, the media, and sports organisations.
*
You can also now book a free guided tour in different parts of East London with a London Greeter.
*
For Olympics accommodation, read about the benefits of staying in Canary Wharf, London's business centre.
*
Top Ten Fun/Free things to Do in London
*
Mike Gerrard - Mike is an award-winning travel writer who has worked for National Geographic, the London Times, and many other clients. ...
