The new Park In Progress Tour is a fantastic opportunity to get on to the former Olympic site to see the creation of this whole new part of London before the new Park begins to open to the public from July 2013.

From the moment visitors report to the site office, they will become part of the on-site team with a chance to don hard hats and high-visibility jackets for their visit.

The Tour includes a behind the scenes site briefing and a visit to the ArcelorMittal Orbit viewing platforms where there is a new interactive experience telling the story of this extraordinary part of London.

For local residents there will be a free preview of the tours before they officially open. Tickets for the preview will be allocated by the neighbouring boroughs. The Legacy Corporation is also offering a local resident discount for the Tours, subject to availability.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London and Chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation said:

“I am delighted we have been able to get people on to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park so soon after the Games. The Park In Progress Tours are a fantastic opportunity to relive our summer like no other and look ahead to an amazing summer series of concerts and sporting events in this new part of London. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is going to be a top visitor destination and a great legacy for east London.”

Philips will be lighting the way for visitors to the ArcelorMittal Orbit. The firm is providing some illuminating features for the Park In Progress visitor experience. Philips is sponsoring the ArcelorMittal Orbit lighting until 2017.

Peter Maskell, Chairman, Philips UK, said:

“As part of the backdrop for the Olympics, the ArcelorMittal Orbit has become recognisable the world over. The dynamic lighting scheme really enhances this impressive structure whilst minimising the energy consumed by using state of the art LED lighting. During the tour visitors will be able to find out more about the role lighting plays in bringing it to life.”

Around 130,000 people visited the ArcelorMittal Orbit during the Games and this is the first opportunity since the end of the Paralympics for the public to travel up to its viewing platforms high above the Park.

At 80 metres up the ArcelorMittal Orbit offer unique 360 degree views of the London skyline including St Paul’s Cathedral and Canary Wharf. On a clear day, you can see as far as Wembley Stadium in the north and Crystal Palace in the south.

The Olympic site is changing so rapidly that no two visits will be the same; already the Riverside Hockey Arena has been dismantled, the largest McDonalds in the world has gone and the temporary seating stands on the Aquatics Centre are being taken down.

In the coming months whole sections of the Park will be transformed with new cafes, community centres and gardens for people to enjoy.

These Tours are the only opportunity to visit the ArcelorMittal Orbit in 2013.

Tours will begin just in time for the Easter school holidays and continue through to the first Bank Holiday in May. Tours start on Good Friday – 29 March 2013 – just four months before Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park begins to open and approximately a year before the Park is fully open.

Adult tickets for the Park In Progress Tours will be the same price as during Games Time with a new discounted family ticket and concessions for senior citizens and students, children aged four and under go free and special group rates are also available.

Full details of the prices are below; the face value of the ticket is the price you pay as there is no booking fee.