Saturday 15th August 2026
Led by Jimmy Lu and Irantzu Pérez
In August, we head to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. The park spans the boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest, and was one of the largest regeneration projects in East London ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. Formerly dominated by industrial uses, it is now a pleasant mix of green spaces, iconic sporting venues and cultural institutions, with residential development still ongoing in the surrounding area. Stratford is very well connected by public transport and remains a vibrant destination throughout the week, thanks to its mix of shopping, leisure and recreational opportunities.
The park has retained many of the facilities and landmarks built for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, including the Olympic Stadium (now home to West Ham United), the ArcelorMittal Orbit, and the London Aquatics Centre, designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Other Olympic venues in the area include the Lee Valley VeloPark and East Village, which housed the athletes during the 2012 Games.
The Olympic Park was built as part of a wider strategy to revitalise former industrial land along the Lea Valley and in East London, alongside the construction of the nearby Westfield shopping centre and Stratford International Station. Over the past two decades, the area has undergone large-scale residential and commercial development, together with improved transport connections including High Speed rail services and the Elizabeth line. One of the most recent additions is the V&A East Museum, which opened in April 2026.
Let’s Meet Here
Our 11:00 am meeting point is outside Riverside East, beside the ArcelorMittal Orbit and opposite the London Aquatics Centre.
Key Times and Meeting Points for the Day
Saturday 15th August 2026
11:00 am – Meet outside Riverside East.
Address: 5 Thornton Street, London E20 2AD
What3Words: ///magic.faced.reply
1:00 pm – First throwdown and group photograph on the steps outside Riverside East.
3:30 pm – Final throwdown and group photograph at the same location.
Afterwards: We’ll head into Riverside East for a drink. Outdoor seating is available.
What to Sketch
- Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and its landscaped waterways.
- The London Stadium.
- The London Aquatics Centre by Zaha Hadid.
- The ArcelorMittal Orbit.
- East Bank, home to Sadler’s Wells East, BBC Music Studios, London College of Fashion (UAL) and the recently opened V&A East Museum.
- Views from the V&A East Museum terrace across East London.
- The River Lea, canals and surrounding footbridges.
- Contemporary residential architecture and public spaces throughout the park.
- Parkland, bridges, waterways and visitors enjoying the open spaces.
Rain Cover / Hot Weather Options
- Mature trees throughout the park provide shade during hot weather.
- Riverside East and cafés throughout the park.
- The covered entrance to the London College of Fashion (UAL).
- V&A East Museum and Sadler’s Wells East (both air-conditioned).
Practical Information
Transport
Elizabeth line, Central line, Jubilee line, London Overground and DLR: Stratford Station (approximately 10–15 minutes’ walk). Follow the signs for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through Westfield Stratford City.
National Rail: Stratford Station or Stratford International (both approximately 10–15 minutes’ walk).
Bus: Stratford Bus Station and Stratford City Bus Station are both within walking distance.
Cycling: The park has extensive traffic-free cycle routes. A Santander Cycles docking station is located close to the meeting point.
Car: Parking is available at Westfield Stratford City.
Toilets
- Beside Riverside East (meeting point).
- Inside V&A East Museum.
- Inside Sadler’s Wells East.
- Throughout Westfield Stratford City.
Food & Drink
- Riverside East restaurant.
- Food kiosks throughout the park.
- Café at V&A East Museum.
- Restaurants around Endeavour Square.
- A wide range of cafés and restaurants in Westfield Stratford City.
Become a Sketch Pal!
We’re delighted to be taking part in a postcard exchange with Urban Sketchers Querétaro, Mexico.
The idea is simple: create an original urban sketch on postcard-sized paper, add a short message about yourself, your Instagram or other social media handle, and we’ll exchange it with a sketcher from Querétaro. It’s a lovely way to share a little piece of London and make a new sketching friend on the other side of the world.
Please remember that, in the spirit of Urban Sketchers, your sketch should be drawn on location, not from a photograph.
We’ll be exchanging postcards at the Olympic Park sketchwalk on 15 August 2026. A member of the Urban Sketchers Querétaro chapter will be visiting London and will bring postcards from Mexico for the exchange.
One small sketch can travel thousands of miles and start a new friendship. We can’t wait to see the stories that cross the Atlantic.
