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Make the most of the just-opened Elizabeth line with these experiences
The Elizabeth line is here! Bringing more of London together, it transforms how Londoners and visitors alike can whizz around the capital, reducing journey times when you’re heading from east or west into central London. Here are some amazing things to do to get you started…
The Elizabeth line stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west through central tunnels across to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
12
The number of trains per hour at launch in the new central section from Paddington to Abbey Wood
60 miles
The length of the Elizabeth line track across London
18 minutes
The time between Paddington and Canary Wharf
39
The number of step-free stations on opening
Nearest Elizabeth line station: Hanwell
Want to encounter the capital’s wild side? Hanwell Zoo is the place to go. The petting zoo, based in Brent Lodge Park, is home to a number of furry friends – from capybaras to porcupines – while its flock of flamingos and their bright pink plumage has to be seen to be believed. If you’re into flora rather than fauna, be sure to swing by the neighbouring Millennium Maze.
Church Rd. £4.50.
Nearest Elizabeth line station: Tottenham Court Road
The LTM’s ‘Legacies: London Transport’s Caribbean Workforce’ exhibition is a celebration of the community’s influence on London transport from the 1950s through to the present day. Hear stories from first, second and third generation Caribbean people who worked for London’s transport network, check out poster artwork designed to recruit workers, and discover the stories behind the large-scale artwork for TfL’s Art on the Underground programme at Brixton station.
The Piazza, Covent Garden. £21, children free.
Nearest Elizabeth line station: Liverpool Street
The annual sculpture festival returns to the streets of the Square Mile for its eleventh edition. Visitors can expect to be wowed by creations from the likes of Claudia Wieser, Eva Rothschild and Mike Ballard, while the first ever Aldgate Square Commission – Jocelyn McGregor’s Earthing – is already in situ for those who can’t wait for their sculpture fix.
From Jun 21. Free.
Nearest Elizabeth line station: Whitechapel
The east London spot is guaranteed to make you laugh whatever night of the week you visit, but you might also get to act as a guinea pig for a well-known comic’s latest material at a surprise show.
231 Cambridge Heath Rd. Prices vary.
Nearest Elizabeth line station: Stratford
The 4.3-mile footpath and cycleway connects Victoria Park to the Royal Docks, all along traffic-free and tree-lined trails. Pick up the path in Stratford (if you don’t have a bike, hire a Santander Cycle!) and head east, exploring historical gems like Abbey Mills Pumping Station.
Free.
Nearest Elizabeth line station: Canary Wharf
For two months from June 21, the business district will be transformed into a riot of colourful, welcoming spaces. The two-month Summer Lights festival sees outdoor installations dotted around the Isle of Dogs’ famed skyscrapers alongside live entertainment, markets and more.
Jun 21-Aug 20. Free.
Nearest Elizabeth line station: Ilford
Thanks to the Elizabeth line, getting to the outskirts of east London is easy! The seventeeth-century country house boasts period-perfect rooms, gorgeous gardens and artists’ studios.
Emerson Rd. Free entry.
