Boat rides at The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Pic: Lee & Stort Boat Company
Yes, it’s the last Bank Holiday before Christmas, so make the most of it! Whilst hundreds of thousands pound the streets of west London at the Notting Hill Carnival, the party is still most definitely going on in the ELL boroughs. Here’s this week’s Pick of the Line.
Start the long weekend early on Friday August 22 with a trip to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. They are welcoming their 3 millionth visitor that day. Will it be you?
A broad range of activities are available daily during the week including guided walking tours, a miniature funfair and the Active August programme of sports to try for free.
After all that excitement why not take a relaxing boat ride?
The latest way to enjoy the beauty of the park lets you sit back and listen to a guided tour as you glide past the Olympic stadium, the London Aquatics Centre and the Lee Valley Velopark along the restored waterways of East London – a legacy of London 2012 development.
Tours depart from the Stratford Waterfront Pontoon located next to the London Aquatics Centre daily on the hour from 12 noon and last 45 minutes.
For more information please call 0845 1162012 – Mon-Fri 9.30-5.30 or contact the Lee & Stort Boat Company
£8 adults £4 children £20 family (2 adults and 2 children)
As the sun goes down, make your way up to the top of the Arcelormittal Orbit and join East London Radio’s Bank Holiday Party Starter. Enjoy spectacular evening views over the Park and the London skyline whilst listening to an eclectic mix of soul, disco and hip hop.
Tickets are priced at £17.50 – Book online or call 0333 800 8099 for telephone bookings
The party runs from 7.30pm – midnight. Over 18s only.
Come back down to earth on Saturday August 23 and maybe even get your hands dirty tending the plants at Dalston’s Eastern Curve Garden. The garden was created on the old Eastern Curve railway line which once linked Dalston Junction Station to the North London Line.
Eastern Curve Gardeners of all ages and abilities meet every Saturday from 2-6pm. Tools and gloves are provided and a communal meal with produce from the garden is the reward for all the hard work.
Go even greener with a two day DIY Solar Panel Workshop running in Lewisham on Saturday August 23. You’ll learn how to source the materials and construct a solar panel for a fraction of the cost of buying one!
The course is run by Demand Energy Equality and all panels are checked by qualified instructors before you take them home!
The course takes place at Axion House, 1 Silver Road, Lewisham, SE13 7BQ. Contact Max at Demand Energy Equality.
Exhibitions and commemorations marking the centenary of the First World War continue across the boroughs.
A major art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red is taking place at The Tower of London.
Each day from August 5 to November 11 2014, ceramic poppies are being “planted” in the dry moat at the Tower of London by different people and organisations from across the country.
Be a part of #TowerPoppies: buy a poppy, dedicate a poppy or register to volunteer http://t.co/PE41pi08FJ pic.twitter.com/kGftDXKUt3
— HistoricRoyalPalaces (@HRP_palaces) August 5, 2014
By Armistice Day this year, there will be 888,246 poppies, each representing a British and Colonial military fatality during the First World War.
Why not take the dog out on Monday August 25? You can proudly parade your pampered pouch at the third Old Spitafields Paw Pageant!
Fancy-dressed dogs at Old Spitafields Paw Pageant Pic: Old Spitafields Market
Mmm but what category to enter? Dog-el-ganger, Dog’s got talent and Dressed Up to the Canines are our favourites and of course there’s the chance to win Best in Show too.
Cool cats – model Tuuli Shipster and renowned photographer Rankin lead the judging.
Register your doggie darling here for £8 or £10 from 11am at Old Spitafields on the day. All proceeds go to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
The countdown is on to the start of the new school term but there’s still time to enjoy some of the following activities in the coming week.
The Under 18s Hockey Summer Camp run by Trinity Mid-Whitgiftian Hockey Club continues at Trinity School, Shirley Park, Croydon on August 27 and Croydon Judo Club are holding a try out session at Wandle Park, Croydon on August 28.
