Paralympic Games and Jubilee Park opening

Today’s the day when the Paralympic flame comes to Waltham Forest just before it moves on to the Olympic Stadium for the opening of the Paralympic Games.
The Paralympic flame will start its route at the Lea Valley Ice centre then go up Lea Bridge Road and right into Orient Way to the new Jubilee Park (the former Marsh Lane Playing Fields) in Leyton, which will be officially opened tonight.

There will be a fun fair in Jubilee Park, food and drink and local acts. The event is open 5-9pm and the torch is expected at 7.30pm. You don’t need tickets and entrance to the park is free.

For details of the Paralympic flame route and opening of Jubilee Park see the London Borough of Waltham Forest Big6 website.

• London 2012 website Paralympic games
• London 2012 website Paralympic Torch relay
• London 2012 website Plan your travel
• London Evening Standard Guide to the Paralympics

If you have tickets to the Paralympic Games and your travel instructions advise using Eton Manor Gate (the nearest entrance to Leyton), see this page for directions to Eton Manor Gate. I’ve ahd a report that Eton Manor gate is not open for the Opening ceremony. Do follow the advice from the Paralympic Games (London 2012) though.

If you’re travelling from outside the borough see the right hand margin and foot of this page for links and travel updates from Transport for London and the Highways Agency.

Maps of the Olympic Park

• Map of the Olympic Park (London2012 map in .pdf format you can print off and showing the main facilities)
• Olympic Park on Google Maps (If you don’t know the area, beware, some people have tried to gain a marketing advantage by marking up the Olympic Stadium wrongly on Google Maps, the correct location is near to Stratford Station).

Happy Bank Holiday

The Paralympics starts next week with the torch relay coming to Leyton on Wednesday evening to coincide with the reopening of the former Marsh Lane Playing Fields as the Jubilee Park. Entrance is free and there will be lots of activities to take part in.

• Paralympic Games 2012

If the weather is nice — and some sun is promised for the weekend — taking a boat out on Hollow Ponds is always a good way to enjoy the weather and you can buy teas, coffees, ice creams and quick food from three places by the pond or pop over the road for a full meal at the Sir Alfred Hitchcock Hotel.

Leytonstone shops, restaurants and cafés would also welcome your custom, with a wide range of food on offer including English, Indian, Chinese, Thai, Romanian, Turkish/Greek/Mediterranean in the town centre, not forgetting the stylish Horizon Patisserie, through to the new Lithuanian Shepherd’s Inn pub right next door to a traditional East End Eel & Pie House in Harrow Green. And lots more besides.

Art exhibition

Although the Stone Space is closed for a summer break until 29 August, there’s a four week art exhibition in the temporary space outside Leytonstone tube called ‘Present’, so if you haven’t been already don’t miss it! The exhibition runs from 20 August to 17 September.

• ‘Present’ on Facebook

Saturday 25 August

The Lion Heart Market

… will be outside the Red Lion again this Saturday. The Lion Heart Market offers vintage, craft and hand-made and ‘not on the high street’ products from local people. The market is open from 10am to 6pm, and it costs nothing to browse! There’s wheelchair access to the pub and garden, a ground floor disabled toilet.

• Lion Heart Market

Thursdays

Sunset Tours at St John’s Church

The sun is setting earlier now so don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the stunning views from St John’s Church on their Thursday evening tours.

• St John’s Church website
• Pictures from the church tower

Looking ahead

Sunday 9 September, 2-4pm

Launch of Church Lane Community Garden

Church Lane Leytonstone, between the footbridge stairs and 111 Harold Road.

A chance for local people to come and see the proposed site and to contribute their ideas and sign up to get involved.

• Church Lane Community Garden on Facebook

Sunday 16 September

Car Free Day

The annual Leytonstone Car Free Day is organised by the London Borough of Waltham Forest and will be on Sunday 16 September. There will be a mix of entertainment, local stalls and a French market.

• See the London Borough of Waltham Forest website for more details
• If you want to book a stall email: arts&events@walthamforest.gov.uk
• Pictures of Car Free Day 2011

Have a great Bank Holiday!

Paralympic Torch Relay

The Paralympic Torch Relay is coming to Waltham Forest on Wednesday 29 August to coincide with the opening of Leyton Jubilee Park.

Find out more about the Paralympic Torch Relay and the Paralympic Games.