ABBA Arena is a purpose-built concert venue in the Stratford district of east London, constructed specifically to host ABBA Voyage, a groundbreaking show in which the Swedish pop group appear as digital avatars, affectionately nicknamed ABBA-tars, performing alongside a live band. Opened in 2022, the demountable structure was designed to be the largest of its kind, seating several thousand spectators, and represents one of the most ambitious uses of motion-capture and projection technology in l.....

At 114.5 metres, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is the tallest sculpture in Britain, a looping lattice of red steel rising above the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, east London. It was created for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games as a permanent landmark for the new park. The work was designed by the artist Anish Kapoor with the structural engineer Cecil Balmond, and largely funded by the steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, whose company gave the tower its name and supplied much of the.....

Founded by the comedian Lee Hurst in 1998, the Backyard Comedy Club is a purpose-built comedy venue in Bethnal Green, in London's East End. It moved to its current site at 231 Cambridge Heath Road in 2013, a couple of minutes' walk from Bethnal Green tube and overground stations. Billed as one of the largest dedicated comedy clubs in the capital, it programmes professional stand-up featuring television names and circuit regulars, with the founder himself appearing from time to time. Since the m.....

Metal pilgrims from around the world make their way to a street corner by Maryland station in Stratford, east London, because this is where Iron Maiden began. The Cart and Horses - a pub trading since the 18th century, on its current corner at 1 Maryland Point since around 1805 and rebuilt around 1880 - was the band's first residential venue: Steve Harris's young group played weekly gigs here from 1976 to 1978, with Dave Murray making his debut on the pub's stage on 21 December 1976. By 1977 the.....

Blending storytelling, theatrical design and immersive technology, this experience invites visitors to step into the world of Cleopatra, the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic kingdom of Egypt and one of the most famous women of the ancient world. Staged in the exhibition halls beside the river in east London, the attraction uses recreated settings, projections, soundscapes and interactive elements to evoke the splendour of Alexandria and the dramatic events of Cleopatra's reign, from her relati.....

Spotlighting female, non-binary and queer artists across a programme that runs from jazz to techno, Colour Factory is a Black-owned nightclub, live-music venue and multi-functional events space in the heart of Hackney Wick. Open since 2018, it advocates cultural diversity and an all-inclusive environment, building a reputation as one of east London's most distinctive grassroots venues. The venue is made up of several connected areas, including the main Factory room, a three-hundred-capacity out.....

Specialising in Afrobeats, hip-hop, R&B and bashment, LA Lounge is a late-night bar and club venue popular with London's urban-music crowd. Operating as a stylish, intimate nightspot, it offers a mix of bar service, bottle service and DJ-led club nights, and has become known for its lively weekend atmosphere, dressed-up clientele and focus on the sounds that dominate the capital's contemporary nightlife. The venue positions itself as a destination for partygoers looking for a more upscale, tabl.....

A swooping building of curving concrete and glass, the London Aquatics Centre is one of the showpieces of the city's Olympic park. Built for the games, it now serves as a public pool and a venue for great swimming events. The centre was designed by a famous architect known for her bold, flowing forms. Its wave-like roof seems to ripple over the pools below. It was built for the Olympic and Paralympic games held in the city, where the world's best swimmers and divers competed. It was one of the.....

Crossing the River Thames in east London, the cable car known by its sponsorship name carries passengers high above the water between the Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks, offering both a novel form of transport and a sightseeing attraction with panoramic views. Opened in 2012 in time for the city's hosting of the Olympic Games, it was the first urban cable car of its kind in the country, built to connect two areas of regeneration on opposite banks of the river that were otherwise awkwar.....

Spanning three floors beside the canal in Hackney Wick, LVLS is a bar, kitchen and music venue that aims to offer a different vibe on every level. From canal-side cocktails to craft beer under stage lights and big-match screenings, it pitches itself as a one-stop spot for the East London neighbourhood. The ground floor houses the main bar, serving signature cocktails, craft beers and non-alcoholic options, while the first-floor Mezz boasts what it calls Hackney's biggest LED screen for live spo.....