Athletics & Aesthetics at the Olympic Park London

The 2012 Summer Olympics saw a massive influx of tourists to London, wanting to see their countrymen make proud by winning gold. The event gave the British economy a massive boost of £9.9bn and of course a boom in London airport transfers with all the people flying in. While the event will be remembered for long, the actual Olympics Park itself is nothing short of architectural brilliance.

The entire project in East London made use of 80,000 workers and is situated adjacent to the Stratford City development. The Olympics Park itself is a consortium of different venues and buildings and includes: the Olympic Village where the athletes stay, and various sporting venues such as the actual Olympic Stadium and the London Aquatics Centre.

The Olympic Stadium

Initial work for the stadium began in mid-2007, and the actual construction began in May 2008. The Organizing Committee Olympics selected the team behind the famous Emirates Stadium, Robert McAlpine and globally renowned design firm Populous.

The stadium is strategically made up of different tiers in order to be able to accommodate large groups of people. During the Olympics, this number reached 80,000 fans and viewers. The tier nearest to the field is shaped like a sunken elliptical bowl, holding up to 25,000 people at a time. It’s material consists of low-carbon-dioxide concrete, containing 40% less carbon than traditional concrete.

The 2nd tier, which holds 55,000 seats, is 315 metres long and 60 metres high, with the capacity to hold up to 55,000 spectators. Interestingly, the total steel required to build the stadium is just a little under the amount of steel used in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Stadium. Imagine sitting atop the stadium roof and watching planes head in to Heathrow airport transfers!

London Aquatics Center

The Aquatics Center is another architectural wonder from the Olympics, and was designed by award-winning architect Zaha Hadid. She designed it 8 years prior to the Olympics in 2012. The centre was constructed on the opposite side of the Waterworks River, near the Water Polo Arena. The structure 148 feet high and 520 feet in length. long and 80 metres (260 feet) wide. Hadid took inspiration from the Dollan Aqua Centre in Scotland.

The complex has a variety of pools for competition, a 50m competition pool, a 25m diving pool and a 50m warm-up pool. Innovatively, the 50m pool has a floor that can be moved to alter the depth, and moveable booms that allow its size to be transformed as per requirement.

A Well-Planned Structure

Even after 4 years of the Olympics, the Park is serving a great purpose for various demographics. It is the result of a well-planned effort right from the start, with a proper future plan of action in place. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is one such example. While it was an accompanying aesthetical structure to the spirit of the Olympics, today it still stands as a popular tourist spot. And the East Village has been converted for use as 3600 apartments, and the International Quarter being turned into a mixed-use commercial district.

Inside London’s Most Expensive Hotel: The Lanesborough

Lanesborough Hotel is known as the most expensive hotel in Britain with a craftsmanship like none other. Situated in the ever-busy Hyde Park corner, it overlooks the hustle and bustle of the city and stands in its elegant grandeur, attracting the rich and wealthy of the country, in fact the world.  

Lanesborough, built as an elegant country house for Viscount Lanesborough in 1719, was reconstructed in 1827 as St George’s Hospital and later was given the shape of a hotel in 1990. After remaining closed for a year, it got under the new management of the outclass Oetker Collection which is a family run group with all their hotels having a grand splendor. Therefore, one can expect intelligent opulence yet meticulous service and price set accordingly.

Accommodation And Facilities

A walk away from Buckingham Palace, Knightsbridge and Hyde Park, the Lanesborough offers a magnificent accommodation of beautifully designed 93 bedrooms and suites in the heart of London. The hotel presents rooms and dining areas restored to their original Regency glory into which the modern technological communication devices and entertainment systems have been installed. The luxurious and magical rooms are stylishly decorated to give a warm feel. Loud yellow painted walls, patterned carpets, multicolour floral patched curtains, antiquated paintings and stencil work on wood panels give the rooms a passé yet classy look, depicting royalty and glamour. Even the bathrooms are fitted with hand-cut marble, appreciated and admired often by the guests. 

The super-modern technology includes hotel information, lighting and curtain controls, room service, all easily accessible on two Sony tablets. Wake up in the middle of the night in pitch dark, put your feet on the floor and the night lights automatically switch on to lead your way. The super-fast free Wi-fi never fails to please the guests. This is not just luxurious, but also a great step towards innovation that the modern-day and affluent demographic demands. 

Revealing the sophisticated new design, the guests at the majestic Lanesborough can experience epic fine dining as well. 

Guests at the Lanesborough hotel are the only ones to enjoy a 24 hour butler service in London. Besides, seven carefully planned rooms provide a perfect place for private events and activities. 

The Royal Suite: £26,000 A Night

The Royal Suite was restored as the largest suite of Lanesborough when the hotel opened again in July last year. The suite consists of seven beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms, two classy living rooms with an incredible view of the plush gardens of Buckingham Palace and Wellington Arch, and a huge dining room with a capacity of twelve people. An adjoining kitchen and a separate entrance for the private butlers of the Royal Suite add to the existing royalty of the suite. With great attention to detail, the Royal Suite serves to be a proof of amazing British craftsmanship where billionaires from around the world stay and enjoy the luxury. Besides, the hotel owned chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce Phantom is also offered as a complimentary service.  

Awards And Accolades

It has been more than a decade since Lanesborough has been getting awards for various categories. From Award of Excellence and Best Afternoon Tea in London in the initial years to being voted as the number one hotel in London in 2014 by Readers, this hotel presents the ultimate definition of luxury and glamour. Besides, it also has the honour of being voted as the best hotel in the world by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2014 Gold List. 

Located in the heart of the capital, moments away from the famous London shopping districts and must-visit landmarks, the hotel is easily accessible via executive taxi service in London. Any  London taxi service will take bookings in advance as well. Search for “local taxi near me in London” and get a list of local taxi services available.