Mention the word “Stratford” to many people and they will usually think of just one thing and one place. To most, it is a place that conjures up images of Shakespeare, thatched buildings and nothing else. However, that is Stratford-upon-Avon and, 135 (217 kilometres) miles away, there is another Stratford that should be of equal interest to Britain’s visitors.
1. Derelict neighbourhood to residential and touristic hotspot
This Stratford is in East London and is, in fact, arguably currently the UK capital’s trendiest and most vibrant district. It was home to the 2012 Olympics, hosted by London, and is an area that has totally reinvented itself in recent years. In fact, Stratford, and East London as a whole, was already on its way to rejuvenation in both transport and infrastructure before 2012, but there’s no doubt that the Games motivated further renewal.
Billions have been injected into the area since the Olympics, the number of international visitors has soared and the Olympic Park has now transformed into a community centre for sport, culture and business. Without the Olympics, the area where the stadium, hotels and shops now stand would quite possibly still be a derelict wasteland and the ‘E15’ postcode, now home to the East Village, which previously housed the Olympians, would not be considered a sought-after residential address.
Stratford was previously predominantly an industrial area, with neglected landscapes and semi-derelict buildings, and an area that wasn’t an attractive destination for investment or tourism. Fast forward to 2024, though, and Stratford has become a bustling metropolis with new housing projects, commercial buildings, and state-of-the-art sports facilities. The rejuvenated Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is now a recreational and cultural hotspot and Stratford has seen a surge in economic development, with an influx of tourists and new residents attracted to its dynamics.
2. New world-class hotels
One of the key developments has been to transform this previously “forgotten” part of the capital into something of a tourist hotspot, a reminder that there’s more to London than Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. But, of course, if you are going to be serious about luring tourists and visitors (both domestic and international) away from the globally well-known sights and attractions in central London you really do need somewhere to accommodate them. And that is where Hyatt House and Hyatt Regency London Stratford hotels have played such a key role.
These are two new, world-class hotels located within one building next to East London’s beautiful Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with its VeloPark and Aquatics Centre, both with impeccable transport access to the rest of London, including London City Airport, St Pancras International, London Bridge and London Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena.
2.1. Hyatt House
Hyatt House comprises 92 studios and 35 one-bedroom suites, offering apartment-style living with all the perks of a world-class hotel, with all suites featuring fully equipped kitchens, free wi-fi and stylish living and working spaces. Guests can enjoy 24-hour access to complimentary laundry facilities while the hotel also boasts a modern gym and an inclusive breakfast.
The modern apartment-style rooms take their cue from the rich colour palettes of the 1920s, where jewel tones are adapted to the practical elements of the fully equipped kitchens and practical workspaces. It makes for a fantastic base for exploring the area for families, or anyone wanting additional living space, in the heart of all the action.
2.2. Hyatt Regency
Meanwhile, at Hyatt Regency, guests will find rich velvet furnishings and fashionable marble fixtures throughout the property’s 225 luxury appointed guestrooms and 10 stunning suites.
Centrally located on the third floor is the Elondi restaurant, bar and terrace. This offers guests, shoppers and locals alike a discreet and sophisticated oasis away from the famously lively walkways of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Westfield Stratford City. The striking interiors throughout the restaurant and bar area are a spectacle of Art Deco, with elegant fittings and cushy, plush chairs that pop against a palate of deep ultramarine blue.
The informal yet classy restaurant serves a nice mix of dishes, ranging from grilled smoked prawns and butterfly seabass to an equally mouth-watering rib eye and slow cooked rack of lamb. There’s also some “East London classics” such as fish and chips and “Brick Lane chicken tandoori”. Prices for “light plates” start from as little as £10 so it is good value too.
The Elondi Bar opens out onto the new Elondi Terrace, a glamorous and spacious 538 square foot (150 square metre) all-weather, al-fresco hideaway. This is out of the sight of onlookers where you can enjoy fine alcoholic and non-al cocktails, aperitifs, beers and sprits.
Sicilian head-chef Alessandro Femino works hand-in-hand with food and beverage director Tommy So whose career spans 20-plus years in hospitality and catering including senior roles at Nobu, The RAC Club, The Stratford Hotel, Sea Containers London, plus five years at the world famous Claridge’s.
3. Shopping centre
Both hotels make for a great base from which you can enjoy some terrific local activities, be they a spot of retail therapy at Westfield Stratford City, or sporty action at the Olympic Park. Westfield Stratford City, which opened in September 2011, is the most popular retail and leisure destination in the UK, attracting 50 million shoppers annually.
Located at the gateway to the Queen Elizabeth Park, with spectacular views over London, it is home to over 320 stores and more than 80 dining options. November 2023 marked the opening of Sephora’s second store in the UK, and the centre proudly hosts JD Sports’ largest store globally. The centre also hosts the UK’s largest All Star Lanes bowling alley, a 20-screen all-digital Vue cinema, and London’s largest casino managed by Aspers.
Moreover, Westfield Stratford City says it is committed to supporting the local community. Alongside its support for local charities, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has joined forces with the London Borough of Newham to create The Skills Place Newham. This retail academy, managed by Seetec, is dedicated to empowering the local community and tackling long-term unemployment. In 2019, it became a founding partner and official sponsor of the East Bank project, aimed at fostering employment, learning, and training opportunities in East London.
Through collaboration with the Foundation for Future London, the Westfield East Bank Creative Futures Fund was established. This £10 million, five-year initiative, powered by URW, will generate 19,000 new jobs and provide a wealth of learning, training, and educational avenues, leveraging art, culture, innovation, and creative placemaking.
In the development of Westfield Stratford City, a commitment was also made to upholding high standards in sustainability. The project has set a new benchmark for urban retail-led developments by incorporating its own Combined Cooling and Heating Power (CCHP) plant on-site.
As one of the initial legacies of the London 2012 Olympics, it is projected that by 2027, approximately £25 billion will have been invested in the centre, underscoring its enduring impact on the region’s growth and development.
4. Overview it all
Sport and shopping combine well here but if you’re also after something a tad different, then, just down the road at the O2 Arena, is another “must try” adventure. The O2 was built under the former Millennium Dome, a large dome-shaped construction built to house an exhibition celebrating the turn of the third millennium.
“Up at The O2” is an exhilarating climb across the top of the world-famous arena, which hosts everything from major pop concerts to the annual Crisis Open Christmas organised by the London-based homelessness charity Crisis. The O2 itself has the second-highest seating capacity of any indoor venue in the UK. In 2020, it was the busiest music arena in the world in terms of ticket sales.
The climb is a challenge, rewarding and also lots of fun and affords great views to a whole range of things, including the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The tour guide will be with you every step of the way and tell you about the sights. The climb times are every 15 minutes, so you just pick a time window that suits. The experience lasts 90 minutes and you need to be at the start 15 minutes before the selected time slot. It is open year-round (weather permitting).
Any visit to this wonderful part of London, still often overlooked and even unknown by many tourists, is like taking a journey through British urban history. This is because you really do get a feel for the profound transformation of this East London district and its experience of urban regeneration and all that that entails.
So, the next time you are thinking of visiting the great British capital, you really should give serious consideration to making a beeline for England’s “other Stratford.”
