Remember the buzz and excitement we all felt when we hosted the Olympics in 2012? Barely any of us actually managed to get real life tickets, but that didn’t stop us from basking in our host city glory. This year, just because they’re not on our soil, doesn’t mean we have to miss out on all the Olympic fun. We’ve made a list of the best places to cheer on Team GB and stare at Tom Daley’s bod. Kidding… sort of…
1. Pop Brixton
Pop Fields, Pop Brixton’s brand new sporty venture, is the ultimate venue to watch the Rio Olympics. Not only will there be big screens and a bar sporting local beers (‘scuse the pun), but Pop will also be hosting a bunch of entertainment, music and community events. The space they have adopted is due to become luxury flats in the future, but building work has been delayed so Pop have claimed it for the summer.
49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ
2. Summer of Sport at St Katharine Docks, Tower Hamlets
Bag yourself a deckchair, relax by the water and imagine you’re on Copacabana beach. It’s almost the same thing, right? If you’re not convinced, there’s a Slug and Lettuce a few metres away from the big screen, so maybe if you treat yourself to a piña colada that will help to keep the dream alive. Just maybe…
St Katharine Marina, 50 St Katharine’s Way, E1W 1LA
3. Exchange Square, Broadgate
Grab yourself a summery cocktail and some tasty grub from one of the many food vendors in and around the square, and sit down to watch some sporting history take place. There will also be live performances from the well established Salsa band, Viramundo, to help bring the Brazilian spirit to the venue.
EC2A 2BQ
4. Beach East, Stratford
I’m sure you’ve heard about Beach East, the staycation paradise in sunny Stratford. Grab your sunglasses (or your umbrella) and head on down to the old Olympic Park for a summer of sun, sand and sport. Or erm… Rio, rain and regret…
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, E15 2DU
5. Boxpark, Shoreditch
Boxpark is the trendiest place to watch the Rio Olympics unfold. And by ‘trendy’ all we mean is that it’s in Shoreditch, of course. All kitted up with deck chairs and food and drink stalls, Boxpark is a good place to set up camp for a day of lounging and letting the Olympians do all the exercise.
2-10 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6GY
6. Merchant Square, Paddington
Pop by after work or on your lunch break for a drink or two and catch the action from The Lawn’s canal side location throughout the summer. It will also be hosting big celebratory parties every Thursday during the Olympics (4th, 11th, 18th), complete with live music, street food and big screens showing all of the action in Brazil. Because why should Rio have all the fun?
The Lawn, Paddington Basin, W2 1JS
7. Canada Square Park, Canary Wharf
Surrounded by bars and restaurants, Canada Square Park is the ideal place to spend an evening watching sport and getting inspired. Because we’ve always thought about getting into long jumping… Ha! Who are we kidding?
E14 5AB
8. Lyric Square, Hammersmith
HammersmithLondon’s Summer Festival is back for its ninth year, and it’s been extended due to popular demand. It will now be showing coverage from the Rio Olympics on the Big Screen (because for some reason they hadn’t thought to do that in the first place) — so pack yourself a picnic dinner and head west to Lyric Square!
King Street, W6 0QL