Late last year, I enjoyed a visit to the new V&A East Storehouse in Hackney Wick, and recently I headed east again to check out the latest addition to the museum’s growing empire, the V&A East Museum.
But first, I took a walk through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, heading north from the wonderfully named Pudding Mill Lane.
Towering over the horizon was the ArcelorMittal Orbit, a 114.5-metre (376-foot) sculpture and observation tower which is Britain’s largest piece of public art.
It’s also a permanent lasting legacy of London hosting the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Do you like it? I’m pretty indifferent to it myself.
The City Mill River winds through the park, flanked by the River Lea to the west and the Waterworks River to the east.
You get the feeling that it won’t be long before luxury flats start populating this area.
The London Stadium, the cavernous and character-free home of freshly relegated West Ham United.
It’s a bit of an eyesore really, although it might be fun to whizz along the ‘world’s longest tunnel slide’ that starts from the observation tower.
Approaching the new V&A East Museum.
It’s a weird kind of museum, where what appears to be entirely random objects are placed next to each other.
I gave up trying to find a narrative and just tried to enjoy each piece as a standalone artwork.
For fans of angled stairs, this museum is an absolute must-visit.
Ah, I remember it well.
These were the glory days when leftie Londoners could regularly enjoy free festivals like the much missed Urban Free Festival in Deptford [see photos from the 1995 festival here] and the wonderful Reclaim The Beach parties.
Some more stairs to enjoy.
Your reward for ascending a thigh busting tally of stairs is this lovely terrace, with commanding views over London.
I imagine this museum is highly praised in What Stairs Magazine.
More info
V&A East Museum
107 Carpenters Rd, Stratford Cross,
London E20 2AR
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