ArcelorMittal Orbit

The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the UK`s tallest sculpture, standing at 114.5 metres tall, towering above all the venues in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and providing a breathtaking view of London up to 20 miles into the distance. The ArcelorMittal Orbit originated in 2009 when former London Mayor Boris Johnson launched a competition to design a sculpture for the Olympic Park. The viewing galleries are accessed by two high speed lifts and provide stunning panoramic views of London skyline including Canary Wharf, The Gherkin, The Shard, The Walkie Talkie, St Paul’s Cathedral, Alexandra Palace and out to Wembley Stadium. Innovative screens allow visitors to learn about key sights across the capital and the world-famous sporting venues of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. There’s also two incredible mirrors created by one of the sculpture’s creators Sir Anish Kapoor which flip and twist the horizon. After leisurely taking in the views, visitors are encouraged to walk down the 455 steps which spiral around the central column so they fully experience the constantly changing perspectives. From June 2016, visitors to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park are being challenged to ‘Ride the Slide’, a brand new hair-raising experience at the ArcelorMittal Orbit. Riders will experience the twists, turns and drops of the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide as it weaves its way through Anish Kapoor’s iconic red sculpture experiencing an exhilarating 40 second descent in the 178m long slide. Riders will travel through light and dark sections at speeds of up to 15mph as the slide loops its way around the sculpture 12 times taking in gentle curves, thrilling drops and a tight corkscrew. The Slide is not just an exhilarating new experience, it is also a major new art installation. Created by Belgian artist Carsten Höller at the invitation of the ArcelorMittal Orbit’s designer, Anish Kapoor, the slide is a unique collaboration between two of the world’s most renowned contemporary artists.