• London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena reopening on Saturday 25 July

• Fun and free things to do with parklands, playgrounds and trails at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

• Stay safe this summer – social distancing measures in place at venues and food & drink outlets

• Download images of London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena here and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park here

• Spokespeople available for interviews- please call 0203 734 9010

The London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena will reopen to the public from Saturday 25 July so you will be able to enjoy these iconic venues – their swim and gym facilities - following four months of lockdown alongside the stunning parklands and beautiful open spaces at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

Feel good this summer and go for a swim, gym session or fitness class and get active as our famous venues reopen. All you have to do to use these venues is to pre-book a time slot at www.londonaquaticscentre.org or www.copperboxarena.org.

The London Aquatics Centre has become a vital facility for the local community with 1 million annual visitors, over 4000 children learning to swim and over 600 on the dive programme.

Equipment within gym areas will be reduced to ensure that 2 metres social distancing between users is maintained, while some fitness classes will be relocated to sports halls or even, weather permitting, the open air.   The 50 metre swimming pool will have double width lanes, backstroke will be prohibited and swimmers will be asked to arrive “beach ready” if possible, to reduce touch points in changing rooms. The dive pool will create a segregated family swim area. 

Staff will be adopting a new, enhanced cleaning regime, while customers will be asked to wipe down the equipment that they have used. Hand sanitiser will be available throughout leisure centre buildings. For more information click here. 

Alongside the venues reopening, the Park remains open with stunning parklands, exciting playgrounds, park trails and swan pedalos and boat tours

Mark Camley, Executive Director of Park Operations and Venues, said: 

“We’re thrilled that these iconic venues are starting to reopen so the public can once again enjoy these spaces from going for a swim, using the gym or taking part in a fitness class in a safe and socially distanced manner. 

“As more people stay at home this summer we want them to be able to enjoy these iconic venues and all that Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has to offer from stunning parklands, playgrounds and our park trails with incredible memories of 2012 – and it’s all free.”

The Park has a dedicated on-Park teams cleaning, landscaping and patrolling every day; your enjoyment and safety is at the heart of everything we do. And for the very latest updates on what’s open please visit our dedicated Coronavirus updates page.

Things to do

Parklands and gardens

Whether you’re looking for all the space you need for those open-air workouts or want the perfect spot to sit down with friends and enjoy a picturesque picnic, the Park’s acres of parklands and gardens are the place for you! Find yourself surrounded by flowers from around the world at the 2012 Gardens, or wander through the Wetlands that are home to hundreds of different birds, waterfowl and amphibians. The Park is open daily and free for you to enjoy, whatever the weather! 

Swan pedalos and boat tours

Take to the water and explore the Park in a unique way this summer on our beautiful swan pedalos, or relax and unwind on a guided boat tour on the river that runs through the Park. Either option makes for a great day out for the whole family and there is social distancing guidance in place for visitors’ safety. The pedalos operate daily from 12pm – 5pm and boat tours run every day at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm.

Perfect Picnic Spots

Make the most of the weather and enjoy eating outside with a picnic. Pick a spot among the landscaped gardens or in the wildflower meadows, or sit in the shade created by the iconic sporting venues from London 2012.  

Playgrounds

Alongside all the acres of parkland, there are playgrounds and places to play in both the north and south of the Park! The Pleasure Gardens, just off Tessa Jowell Boulevard in the south of the Park, is an open play area with oversized swings, slides and a giant sand pit! There’s even a climbing wall along the canal path! In the north of the Park, there’s plenty to explore at the iconic Tumbling Bay playground. Please note the northern pine tree section of Tumbling Bay playground remains closed.

We recommend that hands are washed carefully before and after using the play areas.

Trails of the Park

We know that lots of you are looking for fun outdoor activities over the summer, and we have plenty on offer – whatever your age! The Park offers a landscape full of opportunities to discover something new, including four interactive free trails! We’ve been celebrating the anniversary of London 2012 recently and you too can relive the highlights – from challenging yourself to beat Greg Rutherford’s winning triple jump to hearing the roar of Super Saturday! More information about all of trails – including the Kids Explorer and Biodiversity trails – can be found here. Don’t forget to tag us your photos of you doing them!

Food and drink

The Park is full of unique cafés, bars and restaurants to suit every taste – whether you want a quick bite or a three-course meal. Drop by Canalside at Here East for dinner with a view or head over to East Village where you’ll find plenty of options for a delicious meal and a socially distanced pint! For food on the go, The Last Drop café is your best bet. It’s open for takeaway every day 11am – 6pm. Wherever you are on the Park, you’ll find something to hit the spot!

Social distancing rules are in place at all outlets. Please respect fellow visitors by adhering to them at all times.

We know that days out are a bit different at the moment, and the safety and enjoyment of all our visitors is at the heart of everything we do. We have toilets open at the Park at The Podium and The Timber Lodge which have a robust cleaning schedule in place. We also have on-site teams patrolling the area, cleaning and landscaping. And of course, there are acres of Parklands in the north of the Park – perfect if you want the reassurance of social distancing as you relax.