Stop 1 - Aquatics Centre

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You are standing at one end of a large open space, near the point where a wide raised bridge crosses a river. In one direction in the distance is a line of large buildings, which are Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre and its multi-story car parks.

Between and where you are standing and the shopping centre there is a building site where they are constructing new office blocks for the International Quarter London, a business development which will house 25,000 office workers. The sounds you can hear include a railway line that comes in from the west.

In the wide area ahead of you is the Information Point on one side, where you can book tours, find information, and book the Park Mobility Service. In the centre some large metal planters in a row going with a row of bike racks opposite.
The east side of the area has the London Aquatics Centre, with a graceful curving roof and blue glass windows.

Towards the south this raised area ends at a safety barrier with steps and a lift going down to the lower level. At this level the bridge crosses the river, giving a direct route towards the London Stadium in the middle distance. The river is wide, and has a row of brightly coloured posts sticking out of the water, like giant crayons. These artworks are called Steles and were designed by a local artist, Keith Wilson, as part of the Park’s art programme. The London Stadium has a distinctive zigzag pattern of metal tubes around the top, and the words ‘West Ham United’ and their familiar emblem of crossed hammers on the side.

The ground is flat, and the surface is pea gravel bonded in resin. The main obstacles are the planters, the bicycle racks, and some widely spaced lampposts.