A visit to the O2. At long last.

On a grey and foggy Saturday, I set out in the car with Jackson and Isabel, to have a look at the O2, once called the Millenium Dome.    The Dome cost an enormous amount of money to build, and when it opened on New Years Eve, 1999, it housed the Millenium Experience.  Not a great success.

This great white dome like building, now surrounded by other fairly innovative looking buildings, is situated on the end of the Greenwich Peninsula, on the right hand side of the motorway, before it heads through the Blackwall Tunnel.

As someone, who last visited this white dome, in 2000, I needed to look up Wikipedia, in order to find out what has happened to it since.    I am rather ashamed of admitting not to have visited the O2 since it opened in 2007, as some fantastic concerts have been held in the O2 Arena, and there are also many other attractions in the vicinity.    The O2 is also only a 20 minute drive away from us too, and we have driven past on many occasions.

So here is my version after reading Wikipedia.   The Dome, was rebranded as the O2, due to the name 'The Dome' having a bad reputation as a failed project, being tagged  'The White Elephant'.

O2 (the telephone company) and AEG appear to have invested money into the project, hence the name O2 I guess.

The Dome was leased to Merdian Delta Ltd in 2001 for redevelopment as an entertainment complex.  This included plans for an indoor arena.  Construction for the arena started in 2003.   But it was not an easy task owing to not being able to bring cranes into the building.  The roof of the arena was built on the ground and then hoisted up, and the walls built afterwards.   It was designed to reduce echoing.

It opened in 2007, and by 2008 it had become the world's busiest venue with sales of more than two million pounds.

Around a third of the arena, there is a wide pedestrianised avenue, called the Entertainment Avenue, with restaurants and cafes lining it.   There is also a Cineworld, the Indigo theatre (to cater for small live music events), and a museum called the O2 Bubble.   It is also possible to climb up to the top of the dome, as part of a guided tour.  

The cost of parking is very costly.   £11 for Carpark 2, a blanket charge, which is beside the underground and bus station, and commuters use it too.  Carpark 3 does have hourly parking and is the better option for one or two hours.  Carpark 1 is for the people attending concerts at the O2 and I believe that it is very expensive.  In other words a trip to see the O2 is an expensive day out, whether you take public transport of drive there.   Unless one is lucky enough to be a senior and live within the London area, and have a Freedom Pass.   Free transport.  Lucky people.   

The main aim on this Saturday was to travel across the Thames on the cable car.  £17 for a senior and two children (£7.80 Senior).   The cable car is called the Emirates Airline due to the Emirates sponsorship.   A huge queue awaited us, on a Saturday afternoon, but eventually we boarded our car.

A view of the O2, with the tall buildings of Canary Wharf behind, gloomy on a foggy day.

I am not keen on heights, and the the initial ascent was very steep.  But the cable car ran smoothly, and there was so much to see, I forgot about being up so high, and falling into the river below or being hit by a low flying plane making its descent onto the London Airport runway.   I just hoped they could see us through the fog.

Jackson and Isabel took a great interest in the views outside the window.  They loved the trip.

Looking down at The Royal Docks, with the relatively new EXCEL Exhibition building dominating the area.  There has been significant redevelopment in this area, and of course the docks are no longer used as such.  Canning Town is still described as an area of deprivation, but how much longer?  Certainly not long, from the amount of redevelopment taking place.

Looking back across the river at the O2 and Canary Wharf.

There was a very good view of the Thames Barrier, built to control the water levels in the Thames and to stop surges from the sea meeting flood waters from the Thames, thereby causing catastrophic flooding.

The steep descent back down to the Greenwich Peninsula.   A long way down.

Then it was off to the Emirates Aviation Experience beside the cable car exit.    We sat in airline seats and listened to different aspects of aeroplane flights, experienced being a suitcase travelling on the roller coaster until it arrived at the container, which was then lifted onto the aircraft.  The container of luggage fits snugly inside the aeroplane.   Interesting.   Not a good experience if one suffered from balance problems.  Upstairs there was a chance to fly a plane, extra cost of course.   Plus a chance to have a photograph taken sitting in the pilot's seat.   I could not resist that one, a free photo sent to my email address.

Then we walkd to the O2 to have a look inside, and walk along the Entertainment Avenue.   I think every named restaurant or cafe had a place here.

Just before the end of the avenue, and to the right there was a Nissan Experience, which we could not resist going into as it appeared that there were games in there.   And there was, and a chance to have a ride in an electric car, plus a chance to drive a racing car.  

Isabel having trouble keeping the car on the track.

And Jackson with great concentration mostly kept the car on the track.   It was not easy as I found out when Walter and I went back this week, and I had a go at racing a car.   I felt quite giddy afterwards too.

Yes Walter and I went to the O2 on Wednesday, as Walter was not able to come with us last time.  And again the day was grey and foggy, and there were even more planes flying overhead this time.  No queues though.

When we arrived at the Royal Victoria Docks, we got off the cable car and headed for a building called The Crystal, which held an amazing exhibition on the future of cities, the environment, the economy and quality of life.   We could see the ideas that have already been incorporated into city planning, which was interesting.   A fascinating exhibition.

An electric motor bike.

And a sculpture, not sure of the theme.   I should have read the sign.  But it looked interesting.

Then we followed the path that I took with Jackson and Isabel, to the Emirates Aviation Experience, the walk along the avenue in the O2, and a visit to the Nissan Experience, a test drive in the electric car, a go at racing a car, and a photograph, free, with the background of one's choice.

And here I am, part of an advertisement for Nissan cars.   I am not even sure that I like Nissan cars.  Oh well, anything for a free photograph.

Two lovely days at the O2, that will keep me happy for a while.