Information on the London Olympics Venues and how to get there by train

Information on the London Olympics Venues and how to get there by train

The London 2012 Olympic Games will be held in venues across the UK from 27th July to 12th August 2012. We understand that people both with and without Olympic tickets may be interested in getting to the venues so we have prepared a handy guide to all the venues to be used during the Olympics alongside information on how to get there by train.

You can book train tickets to any of the national rail stations listed below by using our journey planner on the left. Please note that Underground travel in zones 1-9 is free for Olympic Ticket holders by using the special one day Travelcard that's included with your event ticket.

•  London Locations
  • •  Olympic Parkmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Stratford, Stratford International, West Ham, Stratford (DLR), Stratford Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Aquatics (Diving, Swimming, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo), Modern Pentathlon (Swimming, Shooting, Fencing), Basketball, Handball, Fencing, Cycling (BMX), Hockey, Cycling (Track), Athletics
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Judo, Swimming, Wheelchair Rugby, Goalball, Wheelchair Basketball, Football (7-aside and 5-aside), Cycling (track), Athletics, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Tennis

        There are three National Rail stations providing access to the Olympic Park - Stratford station, Stratford International station and, West Ham station.

        National Rail services will run regularly from London Liverpool Street to Stratford and are a good option if you are coming from East Anglia or Central London. If you are travelling from the north into London King's Cross, London St Pancras or London Euston stations, then the Javelin® service from London St Pancras International to Stratford International is a better option. You can also take the Javelin® service from Ebbsfleet in Kent. West Ham Station is a slightly further walk away (approximately 1.6km from the stadium) but may be a good option if you are coming from East London or Essex. It may also be less crowded than the Stratford stations.

        The Olympic Park is a regenerated area in Stratford, East London, featuring 9 different sporting venues as well as the Olympic Village. The Park includes the Aquatic Centre, Basketball Arena, BMX Track, Eton Manor Tennis Centre, Handball Arena, Hockey Centre, Velodrome, Water Polo Arena and the Olympic Stadium.

        During the Games, the Olympic Village will be buzzing with restaurants, shops and leisure attractions, to amuse visitors and the 17,000 competitors alike, and will be a worthy destination in itself. The venue will continue to hold a mixture of sporting events long after the Games have left London, guaranteeing the successful legacy of the 2012 Olympics.

        From Basketball to Wheelchair Rugby, between its 9 venues, the Olympic Park hosts the largest number of events. The new Aquatics Centre alone will host a total of 192 separate events, justifying its £303 million build cost.

    •  Excelmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Custom House (DLR), West Silvertown (DLR)
        • Olympic Events:
        • Boxing, Judo, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Boccia, Judo, Powerlifting, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing

        The ExCeL is a world famous exhibition building, however the 65,000 sq metre column-free hall is being split into 5 separate venues which will host 165 events at the 2012 Games between them. Very little work was needed to convert the building into an Olympic-standard indoor sports centre, with some halls able to hold up to 10,000 spectators.

        Boxing is one of the events due to be held in the ExCeL, with the centre having hosted bouts before, including two of Amir Khan's fights.

    •  Earls Courtmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Earls Court Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Volleyball
    •  Greenwich Parkmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Blackheath; Greenwich (DLR)
        • Olympic Events:
        • Equestrian, Modern Pentathlon (Riding/Running)
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Equestrian
    •  Horse Guards Parademap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • London Charing Cross
        • Olympic Events:
        • Volleyball (Beach)
    •  Hyde Parkmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • London Paddington; London Victoria; Hyde Park Corner Underground; Marble Arch Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Triathlon, Aquatics (Open Water Swimming)
    •  Lord's Cricket Groundmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • St. John's Wood Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Archery
    •  North Greenwich Arena 1 and 2map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Charlton; North Greenwich Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Basketball (Finals - Arena 1), Gymnastic (Artistic/Trampoline - Arena 1), Badminton (Arena 2), Gymnastics (Rhythmic - Arena 2)
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Sitting Volleyball (Arena 2)

        The nearest National Rail station to North Greenwich Arena is Charlton. Although this is a 45 minute walk from the venue, at peak times there are shuttle buses running from the station to the arena which should get you there in less than 10 minutes. Trains to North Greenwich Arena run from Central London (Charing Cross and Cannon Street) as well as from Kent.

        North Greenwich Arena can be accessed by National Rail services to Charlton station. The station has direct services from London Charing Cross, London Cannon Street and Kent, with connections from the rest of the National Rail network. Shuttle buses will run from Charlton station to North Greenwich Arena at peak times.

        The nearest Underground station to North Greenwich Arena is North Greenwich which is on the Jubilee Line and is located just outside the venue.

    •  The Mallmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • London Charing Cross
        • Olympic Events:
        • Marathon, Race Walk, Cycling (Road)
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Marathon

        There are three National Rail stations all within a short stroll of The Mall - London Charing Cross (600m), London Victoria (1,100m) and London Waterloo (1,900m).

        The Mall lies in the heart of London and runs from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square at its eastern end. Because of its central location, The Mall can be easily reached by London Underground, bus or on foot from anywhere in Central London. The closest Underground stations for The Mall are: Victoria (Victoria, District and Circle lines, St James' Park (District and Circle lines) and Green Park on (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines).

    •  The Royal Artillery Barracksmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Woolwich Arsenal; Woolwich Arsenal (DLR)
        • Olympic Events:
        • Shooting
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Shooting, Archery

        The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich are easy to reach by National Rail, with Woolwich Arsenal station being just a 20 minute walk from the venue. You can get direct National Rail services into Woolwich Arsenal from London Charing Cross, London Cannon Street and Kent, whilst of course you can get connections from the rest of the National Rail network.

        The ease of reaching Woolwich by train make it a good option for those travelling from the North of England, particularly bearing in mind that there is no London Underground service to Woolwich. You can however take the DLR from Bank Station in Central London to get to this venue.

    •  Wembley Arenamap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Wembley Arena; Wembley Stadium; Wembley Park Underground; Wembley Central Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Badminton, Rhythmic Gymnastics

        You can get to Wembley Arena by train in many ways, the easiest being through travelling into Wembley Stadium station or Wembley Central station. Wembley Stadium station has direct services from Marylebone in Central London as well as from Birmingham and the Chilterns - making it a good option if you're coming from the Midlands. Wembley Central station is served by direct train services from Euston station in central London - handy when coming from the North.

        You should not travel to Wembley Arena by car as no official public parking will be available during the Olympics.

    •  Wembley Stadiummap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Wembley Arena; Wembley Stadium; Wembley Park Underground; Wembley Central Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Football

        The best way to get to Wembley Stadium by National Rail is by taking the train to Wembley Stadium station. Direct services run into this station from Marylebone station in central London, the Chilterns and Birmingham.

        Alternatively, visitors can take the train to Wembley Central station which offers direct train services from Euston station in central London. This may be a more suitable route if you are coming from the North and thus arriving into Euston or Kings Cross station.

    •  Wimbledonmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Wimbledon Underground; Southfields Underground
        • Olympic Events:
        • Tennis

        You can get to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club by National Rail by taking the train to Wimbledon station. Wimbledon station can be reached through direct services from London Waterloo, the south coast and Exeter. From London Waterloo the National Rail service should only take 10 minutes, making it a great option if you are coming from Central or South London. The venue is 2km away from the station which translates into roughly a 20 minute walk. Shuttle buses will also run from Wimbledon station to the venue during the Games.

•  Locations Outside London
  • •  Brands Hatch - Kentmap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Swanley
        • Olympic Events:
        • Cycling (Road)

        Brands Hatch is located about 40km outside of London, in Kent. Therefore, it is not on the London Underground network and so is best reached by National Rail. The closest rail station to Brands Hatch is Swanley station which is about 10km from the venue. You can get regular direct services to Swanley station from St Pancras and London Victoria.

        Alternatively, you can travel into Sevenoaks station which can be reached by direct services from London Bridge and London Charing Cross stations in central London. Sevenoaks station is approximately 10km from Brands Hatch. During the games, shuttle buses will run from Sevenoaks station to Brands Hatch.

    •  City of Coventry Stadium - Coventrymap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Coventry
        • Olympic Events:
        • Football

        With the City of Coventry Stadium being located outside of London, travelling by train is the most viable option for most people. The nearest train station to the City of Coventry Stadium is Coventry station. This station has direct train services from London Euston, north-west England, the south coast, Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands. From London Euston, the trains run regularly, with the quickest train getting you into Coventry Station in just less than an hour.

    •  Eton Dorney - Buckinghamshire map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Windsor & Eton Riverside; Slough; Maidenhead
        • Olympic Events:
        • Rowing, Canoe/Kayak (Flatwater)
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Rowing

        Eton Dorney, the venue for the Rowing and flatwater Canoe Sprint during the 2012 Olympic Games is located near Windsor, around 40km to the west of London. During the Games, there are several National Rail stations which will provide access to Eton Dorney. Firstly, there is Slough Station which can be reached direct from London Paddington, Reading and Oxford. Then there is Windsor & Eton Riverside station which can be reached direct from London Waterloo station. Alternatively, the venue can be reached by travelling into Maidenhead, which offers direct services from Reading Station.

        All these stations are within a quarter-hour drive of Dorney Lake and will provide shuttle bus services to the venue on the days of the events.

    •  Hadleigh Farm - Essex map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Leigh-on-Sea
        • Olympic Events:
        • Cycling (Mountain Bike)

        Hadleigh Farm is the venue for the Mountain Bike competition, however is definitely worth a visit in its own right, with the site including 550 acres of beautiful grass and woodland. As Hadleigh Farm is located outside of London, it is therefore not on the London Underground network and hence is best reached using National Rail. The nearest National Rail station to Hadleigh Farm is Leigh-on-Sea, which is a 30 minute walk or short shuttle bus journey from the venue. Leigh-on-Sea can be reached by direct train services from London Fenchurch Street station and Southend station.

        London Fenchurch Street station is not on the London Underground network but can be easily reached on foot from Aldgate and Tower Hill underground stations.

    •  Hampden Park - Glasgow map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Mount Florida
        • Olympic Events:
        • Football

        Hampden Park is located a few miles south of Glasgow city centre, approximately 670km north of London. The nearest stations to Hampden Park are Mount Florida Station and King's Park Station, which are both within a five minute walk from the venue. Trains to both of these stations run from Glasgow Central Station.

        If you are travelling up from London or the South, National Rail services take around four and a half hours from London Euston to Glasgow Central Station, where you can get a connecting train to Hampden Park.

    •  Hampton Court Palace - Surrey map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Hampton Court
        • Olympic Events:
        • Cycling (Time Trial)

        Hampton Court Palace, the venue for the men's and women's Cycling Time Trial, is approximately 23km from central London and is not on the London Underground network. As a result, this venue is best reached by National Rail services from central London.

        The nearest train station to Hampton Court Palace is Hampton Court station which is a 200 metre walk from the venue. You can get direct rail services to Hampton Court station from London Waterloo, Wimbledon, Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Earlsfield, Raynes Park, New Malden, Berrylands, Surbiton and Thames Ditton - making it an easy option if you are travelling from Central or South London. From London Waterloo the journey should only take 35 minutes.

    •  Lee Valley White Water Centre - Hertfordshiremap
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Cheshunt
        • Olympic Events:
        • Canoe/Kayak (Slalom)

        The Lee Valley White Water Centre is the chosen venue for Canoe/Kayak Slalom event in the 2012 London Olympics. With the venue being located 30km outside London, it is therefore not on the London Underground network. Consequently, the Lee Valley White Water Centre is best reached by taking the train from Liverpool Street station in central London or Tottenham Hale station in North East London to Cheshunt station. Cheshunt station is an approximate 20 minute walk from the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

        Alternatively, visitors can take the train into Waltham Cross Rail Station, which is a 25 minute train journey from London Liverpool Street and an approximate 15 minute walk to the Lee Valley White Water Centre.

    •  Millennium Stadium - Cardiff map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Cardiff Central
        • Olympic Events:
        • Football

        The Millennium Stadium is situated outside of London but can be easily reached by train with Cardiff Central station being just a five minute walk from the venue. There are direct trains from Cardiff Central from London Paddington, Birmingham, the south coast and south-west England. You should be able to see the Stadium upon exiting the station, with sign posts also there to point you in the right direction.

    •  Old Trafford - Manchester map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Trafford Park; Manchester Piccadilly
        • Olympic Events:
        • Football

        Old Trafford, which is being used as a venue for some of the 2012 Olympic Football events, is home to Manchester United and thus is one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. The Stadium is situated within a few miles of Manchester city centre, in north-west England.

        For the majority of people, Manchester Piccadilly will be the most convenient station for reaching Old Trafford. Manchester Piccadilly is situated 4km from Old Trafford Stadium, with direct train services from London Euston, Birmingham and Glasgow. From Manchester Piccadilly, visitors can take the Manchester Metrolink tram service to Old Trafford Station.

        Alternatively, visitors can take a train to Trafford Park which is 1.5km away from Old Trafford. Direct train services run to Trafford Park from Manchester Oxford Road, Liverpool Lime Street and Warrington Central.

    •  St. James' Park - Newcastle map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Newcastle Central
        • Olympic Events:
        • Football

        St James' Park is the home to Newcastle United Football Club and is located in Newcastle in the North East of England. The nearest train station to St James' Park is Newcastle Central station which is less than 1km from the venue. Direct rail services run to Newcastle Central station from London King's Cross, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

    •  Weymouth and Portland - Dorset map
      • • Nearby stations:
        • Weymouth
        • Olympic Events:
        • Sailing
        • Paralympic Events:
        • Sailing

        Weymouth and Portland is the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events and is located approximately 3 hours from London by train.

        Weymouth station is approximately 2km from the Nothe which is where the ticketed spectator area will be located for the Sailing events. Weymouth station has direct services from London Waterloo (2hrs 40mins), Southampton (approx 1hr), Bournemouth, Pool, Bristol (2hrs 45mins) and Reading, as well as connections from the rest of the National Rail network.