The contemporary architecture of London at the Olympics
The contemporary architecture of London continues to be fascinating; no matter how many times you visit. The city has a perfect equilibrium of tradition and modernity, which makes it unique and always surprising. There is always something new to discover.
We can add the new buildings of the Olympic Games of 2012 to the list of cutting-edge architecture in London. The ambitious proposal to transform the Lower Lea Valley zone, one of the poorest areas on the east side of the city, into the Olympic stage.
We cannot forget to visit some of the most emblematic buildings of contemporary London, the Docklands zone or see what exhibit is featured at the Tate Modern by herzog & de Meuron.
INCLUDED IN THIS TRIP THROUGH THE CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE OF LONDON
– Preparation of itinerary and guided tours throughout the trip.
– Visit with official guide of the Olympic zone.
– Lodging in 3* in double room.
– Breakfast.
– Transfer to/from airport.
– Public transport pass.
– Private bus for day trip to Oxford.
– Bus in London for 4 hours for specific tours.
– Entrance tickets.
– Basic travel insurance.
MAIN INTERIOR VISITS
– British Museum, roof by Foster.
– Docklands Zone and Canary Wharf.
– Tate Modern, Herzog & De Meuron.
– 2012 Olympic Games Zone.
– Laban Dance Centre, Herzog & de Meuron
SUGGESTED ITINERARY 6 DAYS
DAY 1 – LONDON (arrival)
DAY 2 – LONDON
DAY 3 – LONDON
DAY 4 – TRIP TO OXFORD
DAY 5 – LONDON – OLYMPIC GAMES ZONE
DAY 6 – LONDON (Return home)
DAY 1 – LONDON
Arrive to London. Transport to hotel and check in.
Meet our contact to visit a more classic London with touches of new buildings we will find throughout the tour:
Houses of Parliament and Big-Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and National Gallery, Buckingham Palace, Royal Albert Hall, etc. British Museum the Parthenon Frieze and the roof by Foster and Partners, which creates a large central space.
Walk down Oxford Street, Mayfair, Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus, Marble Arch, Hyde Park (Serpentine Gallery by different architects each year, Peter Zumthor in 2011), Royal Albert Hall, and diplomatic neighborhood of Belgravia.
Night in London
DAY 2 – LONDON
Breakfast. Walk along the Thames River to see the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the Design Museum, where there are always interesting design and architectural exhibits. We also see Greater London Authority (2003) by
Norman Foster, headquarters of the new mayor of London.
Transfer to Docklands zone: center of commercial development. Designed by Adrian D. Smith, FAIA, RIBA, and Design. Partner of: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Canary Wharf area: The station and the area around the south of London are architecturally impressive. It’s a complex with 24 buildings for offices, hotels, restaurants, shops, apartments, etc., the tallest skyscrapers of Great Britain by Cesar Pelli.
Night in London
DAY 3 – LONDON
Breakfast. Visit the financial district known
as “The City”.
There we will visit: the Gherkin or “Cucumber” (2004) by Norman Foster,
200 meters tall, in the area around Liverpool St, Lloyds by Richard Rogers and the mythical The Economist Building by Alison + Peter Smithson. Tate Modern, located in the former energy center that was converted into a museum by Herzog & De Meuron, and the Millennium Bridge by Foster.
Private bus for 4 hours for various visits around the city center, including: Laban Dance Centre by Herzog & de Meuron and the Robin Hood Gardens by Alison + Peter Smithson.
DAY 4 – OXFORD EXCURSION
Breakfast. Private bus for day trip to Oxford.
Oxford, the oldest British university city and an urbanistic jewel with more than 600 buildings that house its 42 university colleges.
Aside from the more classic part, we will see other buildings like the Florey Building by James Stirling and the Manor Road Building by Foster.
On our way back we will stop at Windsor, one of the most important castles in the history of England (900 years old), symbol of British royalty, and the most inhabited. Here we also find St. George’s Chapel.
Return and night in London.
DAY 5 – LONDON
Breakfast: Guided tour of the new zone of installations from the 2012 Olympic Games. We will begin at Bromley-by-Bow Station.
Among others: Aquatic center by Zaha Hadid with the undulating roof that looks like a giant wave. Cycle track, work of architecture studio Hopkins Architects.
Olympic Stadium by Pedro Populous and Sir Cook: Their innovative design allows for 80,000 seats. Basketball Arena: The arena will be the biggest temporary building of the Olympic Games.
In the afternoon, we recommend the East zone where you can find Whitechapel Art Gallery, and the White Cube with interesting exhibits that are worth a visit.
DAY 6 – LONDON
Breakfast and check out of hotel.
Free morning for shopping or museum visits (Museum of Natural History, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate…). We especially recommend Sir John Soane Museum in Holborn.
Return Home.
