Are you getting excited yet? You should be. There's just 30 days to go til the London 2012 Olympic Games! If you're lucky enough to be heading to the UK, why not get into the Olympic spirit early by visiting some of the venues before the games begin?
In and around London
Guided walks take place every day at 11am and 2pm from Bromley-by-Bow tube station. There's also an evening walk every Wednesday at 6pm. These walks take you on a circuit around the Olympic Park, explaining the history of Stratford and the development of the area for the Games.
Credit - London 2012
The major venue of the Games is the Olympic Park in East London, which includes the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, the Aquatics Centre and the Velodrome. Visitors aren't yet allowed inside these venues, but guided walks take visitors around the area for a sneak peek.
Hyde Park is one of London's most famous and largest parks. Centrally located, it will host the triathlon course for the Games and is open all year round. It’s a great place to come for a picnic or to admire the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial.
Prominent locations
One very famous address that is being utilised for the Games is 10 Downing Street. The beach volleyball competition is taking place on Horse Guards Parade, the historic square next door to the Prime Minister's home where the annual Trooping the Colour parade takes place every year to celebrate the Queen's birthday. Visitors to London crowd Horse Guards every day to see the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Another very famous venue hosting an event is Wimbledon. Located a little out of town, this famous and genteel lawn tennis club includes a museum that is open daily to visitors. Pay a visit and walk through the men’s dressing room from the 1980s and eyeball the Championship trophies.
Several Olympic events are being held in Greenwich, a leafy and historic borough that sits on the River Thames. Greenwich Park is playing host to the equestrian competitions as well as the running and shooting events in the modern pentathlon. The park is not only one of the most beautiful in London, with unrivalled views across the city skyline, it is also home to the Royal Observatory (the home of Greenwich Mean Time) and the National Maritime Museum.
Famous venues
In North Greenwich, the iconic O2 Arena, one of the UK’s most prominent music and exhibition centres, will play host to the gymnastics competition and basketball final. The O2 Arena is open in the lead-up to the Olympics with a program of music and art.
On the other side of London, Lord's Cricket Ground, famous for the Ashes series, will transform into an archery range for the Games. The grounds hold many treasures for cricket fans, including the Ashes urn itself.
Meanwhile, footy fans can visit the best stadiums across the United Kingdom, where venues such as Old Trafford in Manchester and Wembley in London will welcome international football superstars. Visitors wishing to get in on the football action early can enjoy tours of the famous stadiums.
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