So what did we get for our £8.77bn? In addition to an expectation-busting Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, there's the small matter of those remaining buildings and all that parkland. Officially known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the last of E20's green acres are now open to the public.
The immaculate parklands to the north launched in summer 2013, a year after the Games, their paths and waterways enhanced by the new Timber Lodge Café. Next came the Zaha Hadid-designed Aquatics Centre, which is open for public swimming and diving sessions, followed by the VeloPark, home to road, track, BMX and mountain biking, and the southern section of the park. The latter comprises all the remaining parkland, including children's play areas, four walking trails and a couple of dozen public artworks.
To the north, the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre has two superfast hockey pitches and ten tennis courts (four indoor, six outdoor) – you can just turn up and play, although it might be advisable to book ahead.
The retooled Olympic Stadium (renamed the London Stadium) opened most recently, and now plays host to West Ham as well as various athletics championships and big concerts. But the Olympic Park isn’t finished yet. Work is ongoing around its fringes on a crop of new cultural destinations, housing and other bits and bobs – some of which won’t be finished by 2023, almost two decades since London won the 2012 games.
