2012 is definitely the year of the 30th Olympic Games. London, the metropolis that always stirs the imagination, has been front and center like never before; a staging venue for the pageantry of the run-up to, and ultimately the amazing spectacle of the Games themselves.
Those privileged to have boots on the ground, witnessing the once-in-four-years Olympiad glory, have the added advantage of exploring and immersing themselves in the beauty, mystery, delights and attractions of London; the stuff of dreams and lifetime memories.
Those who must follow the ceremonies vicariously through the media, can dream of scheduling a visit after the Games are over; there is still much to be learnt, shared and enjoyed.
The Olympic Torch lights the path to the Games as it cuts a swathe across continents and countries, setting hearts and minds aflame with the soul-stirring weight of traditions and practices dating from antiquity.
During the ten weeks from May 21 to July 27, after landing on the shores of England, it touched over 1,000 communities over 95% of the country, covering 8000 miles. 13 million witnesses paid tribute to over 8,000 Olympic Torchbearers. www.london2012.com
The Journey of the Olympic Torch through London
Photo credit:
london2012
It was heralded into the capital in heroic fashion, borne by a Royal Marine Commando abseiling from a military helicopter onto the Tower of London, its resting place for the night.
The boroughs that mark the ensuing trail of the Torch through the city, offer many fascinating attractions.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Royal Borough of GREENWICH
The torch started its journey through the capital from Greenwich Park.
The Prime Meridian, running through Greenwich Town and the Greenwich Observatory, marks Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT; the benchmark on which all world time zones are based.
Greenwich Town contains the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Royal Naval College and the Old Royal Observatory. Other landmarks include The Royal Artillery Museum, University of Greenwich, Millennium Dome, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, various Greenwich parks and gardens, including parts of the South East London Green Chain and Avery Hill Park.
Thursday, July 26
The torch began the penultimate day of its voyage to the Olympic stadium passing through nine London Boroughs.
Borough of CAMDEN
The journey began at 6.48 am from the Roundhouse in Camden; a former railway engine shed, now a performing arts and concert venue. Other note-worthy landmarks of the borough include:
The Bloomsbury Theatre, the British Telecom Tower, Camden Catacombs & Market, parts of Covent Garden, and Dickens House; Freud Museum, Hampstead Heath, Hatton Garden, and Highgate Cemetery; Keats' House, Lincoln's Inn, Parliament Hill Lido, Russell Square, and Shaftesbury Theatre.
The flame traveled on a boat over Regent's Canal, appearing at St Pancras Station; thence it was passed to the next torch-bearer at 8.24 am outside Islington Town Hall.
London Borough of ISLINGTON
A desirable residential district of Inner London, it has many features of touristic interest, combining history, shopping, nightlife and culture:
Almeida Theatre, Artillery Ground, Pleasance Theatre Islington, Courtyard Theatre, Emirates Stadium, Islington N1 Centre; the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art in Canonbury Square, Hen and Chickens Theatre, Islington Arts Factory, London Canal Museum, and Islington Museum.
Also, Islington Local History Centre, The King's Head Theatre, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Union Chapel; headquarters of Amnesty International, Little Angel Theatre, VUE Cinema, Odeon Cinema, St John's Gate, Clerkenwell and The Screen On The Green.
Also, Islington Local History Centre, The King's Head Theatre, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Union Chapel; headquarters of Amnesty International, Little Angel Theatre, VUE Cinema, Odeon Cinema, St John's Gate, Clerkenwell and The Screen On The Green.
It then made its way into the City of London, appearing at St Paul's Cathedral at 8.55am.
CITY of LONDON
This borough, in medieval times comprised all of London. Now this area is a small, though prominent part of the metropolis, also referred to as the City or the Square Mile.
For its size, it packs in many notable landmarks:
The Monument (to the Great Fire), the Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, Dr. Johnson's House, and Mansion House. A large number of area churches, including St. Paul’s were designed by Sir Christopher Wren. King's Bench Walk, Prince Henry's Room, and Staple Inn on Holborn survived heavy bombing during the war. A few existing sections of the Roman London Wall can be found near the Tower of London and the Barbican area.
For its size, it packs in many notable landmarks:
The Monument (to the Great Fire), the Guildhall, the Royal Exchange, Dr. Johnson's House, and Mansion House. A large number of area churches, including St. Paul’s were designed by Sir Christopher Wren. King's Bench Walk, Prince Henry's Room, and Staple Inn on Holborn survived heavy bombing during the war. A few existing sections of the Roman London Wall can be found near the Tower of London and the Barbican area.
And on to the Millennium Bridge and across the River Thames at 10.03am.
London Borough of SOUTHWARK
One of the oldest parts of London, at the southern end of London Bridge, it fronts River Thames to the north. It is now a target of intensive regeneration. One of its most famous sons was John Harvard, first benefactor of the famous university, whose name it bears. New developments are London Bridge City, More London, and Tooley street, housing the London Dungeon, Britain at War, the London Bridge Experience and London Tombs, Unicorn Theater, and Southwark Playhouse.
From the South Bank the Flame went on to Shakespeare's Globe at 10.11 am; Windrush Square (Lambeth) at 12.28 pm, Stamford Bridge (Hammersmith and Fulham), at 1.56 pm, Holland Park (Kensington and Chelsea), at 2.29 pm and BBC White City (Hammersmith and Fulham) at 3.33 pm.
London Borough of LAMBETH
Lambeth Palace is the official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and encompasses the Lambeth Palace Library, the adjacent parish church of St. Mary-at-Lambeth, and the Museum of Garden History. Waterloo Quarter includes The Cut and the Old Vic and Young Vic theaters.
London Borough of WANDSWORTH
This South-West London district sports many new or refurbished buildings along the affluent riverside developments, including the Chelsea Bridge Wharf. The Peace Pagoda is located in Battersea Park. Five bridges join Wandsworth to the north bank of the Thames.
Culture and sport are alive and well as showcased in the Battersea Arts Centre, Theatre 503, De Morgan Centre for the Study of 19th Century Art and Society, The Borough of Wandsworth Rifle Club, and Wandsworth Museum.
London Borough of HAMMERSMITH and FULHAM
This West London area forms part of Inner London. A commercial hub, serviced by major highways, it is headquarters to many international corporations.
The borough has four well-known theaters, Riverside Studios, Bush Theatre, the Lyric Hammersmith and Curtains Up. The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts is based in the borough. There are several cinema complexes. Studio 106 Art Gallery holds regular exhibitions and workshops. The borough is also home to the Hammersmith Apollo, which plays host to major concerts and standup comedy performances.
The Dove, the oldest surviving riverside pub in London with, reputedly, the smallest bar in the world, was a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway and Graham Greene.
In addition to the hotspots of King Street, leisure activity also takes place along Hammersmith's pedestrian riverside zone, a place of pubs, rowing clubs and the waterfront park of Furnival Gardens. The nearby Ravenscourt Park has tennis courts, a basketball court, a bowling lawn, a paddling pool and playgrounds.
On its route through Chelsea the torch was relayed down the King's Road.
The borough has four well-known theaters, Riverside Studios, Bush Theatre, the Lyric Hammersmith and Curtains Up. The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts is based in the borough. There are several cinema complexes. Studio 106 Art Gallery holds regular exhibitions and workshops. The borough is also home to the Hammersmith Apollo, which plays host to major concerts and standup comedy performances.
The Dove, the oldest surviving riverside pub in London with, reputedly, the smallest bar in the world, was a favorite haunt of Ernest Hemingway and Graham Greene.
In addition to the hotspots of King Street, leisure activity also takes place along Hammersmith's pedestrian riverside zone, a place of pubs, rowing clubs and the waterfront park of Furnival Gardens. The nearby Ravenscourt Park has tennis courts, a basketball court, a bowling lawn, a paddling pool and playgrounds.
On its route through Chelsea the torch was relayed down the King's Road.
The Royal Borough of KENSINGTON and CHELSEA
Often abbreviated to RBKC, this central London Borough has been granted Royal status. It stands behind the City of Westminster, as the wealthiest and most densely-populated borough in the country.
World-famous landmarks, major museums and universities, department stores like Harrods, Peter Jones and Harvey Nichols live here. It hosts the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest, and several embassies in its Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Kensington Gardens districts. It boasts many of the most exclusive residential districts in London, also some of the most expensive in the world.
At 5pm the torch made its way down Oxford Street on a bus accompanied by the Lord Mayor of Westminster. 5.25pm saw it along Regents Street/Shaftesbury Avenue, through the West End. Passing the Gielgud Theatre, Vangelis, the composer for the currently running Chariots of Fire, accompanied its passage with his music.
5.40pm, it crossed Trafalgar Square; it was then run down to Downing Street at 5.59pm.
6.33pm various bearers carried it along Birdcage Walk to the front and into Buckingham Palace and out again, all the exchanges witnessed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
5.40pm, it crossed Trafalgar Square; it was then run down to Downing Street at 5.59pm.
6.33pm various bearers carried it along Birdcage Walk to the front and into Buckingham Palace and out again, all the exchanges witnessed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
On leaving Buckingham Palace, the Flame was escorted by members of the Household Cavalry along Constitution Hill. It ended the day at 7.10 pm in Hyde Park where the Olympic cauldron was lit and a concert held in celebration.
City of WESTMINSTER
This borough occupies most of central London and the West End. Although there are several large parks and open spaces, the built-up area is dense. Many sites synonymous with London are located here including Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and 10 Downing Street. The borough is a combination of ancient political districts, shopping areas, night-life and high-end residences.
Friday July 27
After 69 days, traversing the length and breadth of the land, the Flame embarked on its final journey to the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony. Starting from Hampton Court Palace, it was carried onto the Royal Rowbarge, the Gloriana and rowed down the Thames to Tower Bridge. It re-appeared that evening at the Opening Ceremony. It was then passed through the hands of athletes, to the Olympic Cauldron which was lit and will stay alight until it is extinguished on the day the Games conclude.
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