Arts and entertainment

This year saw the return of global legends Foo Fighters and Burna Boy to London Stadium. It’s no wonder they both keep coming back to the Park, as the artists consistently see huge crowds come from all over the country for their sold-out shows. The party didn’t stop there, as over at Copper Box Arena, Charli XCX headlined H&M's Autumn/Winter 2024 campaign launch. The event was a creative culmination of music, art installations, and performances, with DJ sets by Jamie xx and Sherelle – perfect for one of the Park’s most flexible venues.  

In 2025 you can expect even more big names in arts and entertainment. February will see the opening of the Sadler’s Wells East 550-seat dance studio, with an incredible line-up of shows throughout the year, and the ArcelorMittal Orbit is relaunching with new operator Zip World at the helm. They have big plans for the UK's largest sculpture and are hoping to add a zip line later in the year, bringing a fresh dose of adrenaline to the Park's already iconic skyline.

V&A East Storehouse will welcome visitors for the first time in May. The Storehouse will offer audiences an extraordinary opportunity to explore the V&A’s previously unseen archives, featuring 250,000 objects, 350,000 library books, and more. While the following month, Sam Fender and Iron Maiden will take the stage over at London Stadium. It will be a homecoming for Iron Maiden as they originate from Newham and are a testament to the creativity of east London – something we take great pride in championing here at the Park. Finally, in September V&A East Storehouse will be opening their David Bowie Centre with all 90,000+ items from David Bowie's archive. Let's just say we aren't Under Pressure to make 2025 another iconic year on the Park, it's all coming along nicely!

Food, glorious food

2024 was a big year for eateries on the Park as demand grew for world-class restaurants and bars to compliment the ever-growing array of visitor attractions and experiences here.

March saw Five Star Catering take over Timber Lodge, a community hub, café, bar and event space in the beautifully landscaped north of the Park. Situated next to the Blossom Garden and Tumbling Bay play area, Timber Lodge is a favourite with families for their simple, fresh food and community days.

Riverside East opened its doors in May, and the bar and restaurant have been an epicentre of energy ever since. From stellar outdoor screenings for the summer of sport, DJ sets, markets, West Ham fan zones to drag bingo, Riverside East has something for everyone. Their cocktails, street food options and stunning rooftop views make them one of the most desirable locations on the Park for corporate parties and private celebrations.

Sport

In 2024, the Major League Baseball London Series made a return to London Stadium, featuring two thrilling back-to-back games between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. This quintessentially American event brought an authentic ballpark experience to fans, complete with a themed menu spread across the concourse and Stadium Island. The MLB London Series once again proved to be a major economic boost, contributing an impressive £56.5 million to the London economy in 2024 alone and generating an additional £8.7 million for the wider UK. 

In the perfect prelude to the Paris Olympics, London Athletics Meet 2024 was held at London Stadium in July. The sold-out event was a spectacular show of sportsmanship with great results from Team GB athletes. London Stadium wasn’t the only venue getting audiences hyped for the Olympics, as London Aquatics Centre shone with the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, which doubled as the qualifiers for Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and delivered medallists including Noah Williams, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, Scarlett Mew Jensen and Tom Daley.

Meanwhile, Copper Box Arena hosted everything from championship boxing and the Ultimate Tennis Showdown to international basketball and netball games. There were a string of successes for our resident teams- London Pulse Netball Super League Team finished 3rd in the Netball Super League and BC London Lions men won the British Basketball League and Playoffs. The London Lions women’s team won the League, WBBL trophy and the EuroCup, the first British team to do so!

2025 will see the return of London Athletics Meet and the debut of the FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) at London Stadium. The event follows through on WSX’s commitment to bring world-class racing to major global cities. As the only international motocross and supercross event to take place in the UK next year, it promises to be an unforgettable experience for two-wheel, dirt-loving fans. While, in May, London Aquatics Centre will host one of the world’s biggest international swimming competitions, AP Race London International 2025. It looks like it’ll be another great year of sport on the Park!

Development

In 2024, the London Legacy Development Corporation’s (LLDC) Planning Decisions Committee concluded its role, handing town planning powers back to local boroughs after overseeing significant development since its first meeting in 2012. Key achievements during its tenure included approving 24,018 new homes, with 13,046 already built and occupied, delivering 3,572 student bedrooms and approving 5,261 more, and planning 646,000 sqm of employment space, 420,000 sqm of which is completed. Notable infrastructure developments unveiled in 2024 included a new entrance to Stratford Station, enhancing access to one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs, and the approval of the Bow Goods Yard redevelopment into a rail freight campus and logistics hub, projected to eliminate 90,000 lorry trips annually.

The development of the area will continue in 2025 with the completion of public art on Marshgate Lane, designed to foster a sense of safety, part of the LLDC’s gender-informed planning initiative launched in 2021 to make Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park more welcoming for women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals. Cycling infrastructure will also see significant upgrades, including new sections of Westfield Avenue and the opening of Roach Point Bridge, providing a direct link between Hackney Wick and Fish Island. The Westfield Avenue project will also include a bus-and-taxi-only road and improved pedestrian facilities, contributing to cleaner air and a more enjoyable travel experience.

2024 was yet another incredible year for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, both as a visitor destination, business hub and place to live. The year saw so many exciting announcements and launches, and the Park continues to lead the way in offering unforgettable experiences in London. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to build on this momentum, welcoming even more world-class events and projects that will cement the Park’s status as one of London’s premier destinations. East London is gaining increasing recognition, with The New York Times naming it one of its top 52 travel destinations for 2025. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to share the next chapter in the Park’s continued evolution with you.