Why is the ArcelorMittal Orbit important?
Why is the ArcelorMittal Orbit important?
Designed by sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor and engineer Cecil Balmond, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is one of the most striking and enduring visual legacies of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its extraordinary looping structure has become a byword for design innovation and playful invention.
Why was the orbit built?
Designed by Turner-prize winning artist Sir Anish Kapoor and award-winning engineer Cecil Balmond, the idea arose following a conversation between the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson and Olympics Minister, Tessa Jowell, who agreed that the Olympic Park would benefit in having a landmark to commemorate the 2012 Olympics …
How tall is the orbit slide?
The Orbit slide is 76 metres (250ft) high, making it the world’s tallest tunnel slide. At 178 metres (584ft) in length, it’s also the longest!
How long does it take to slide down the ArcelorMittal Orbit?
40 seconds
3. The Orbit slide is the world’s longest tunnel slide. It takes 40 seconds to whizz from top to bottom, including 12 loops round the tower (called the ‘bettfeder’ – German for ‘bedspring’).
How much did the ArcelorMittal Orbit cost?
£22.7 million
| ArcelorMittal Orbit | |
|---|---|
| Opened | April 2014 |
| Cost | £22.7 million |
| Owner | Olympic Park Legacy Company (on completion), ownership transferred to London Legacy Development Corporation |
| Management | ENGIE Services Limited on behalf of London Legacy Development Corporation |
How old do you have to be to go on the orbit slide?
at least eight years old
What is the age and height limit for The Slide? You must be at least eight years old and over 1.3m in height to ride The Slide.
Who designed the orbit?
Arup GroupArcelorMittal Orbit / Architecture firm
How fast does the orbit slide go?
In the exhilarating 40-second trip, riders are expected to hit speeds of up to 15 miles per hour! And that’s not all! Stand on top of the world at the ArcelorMittal Orbit and take in London’s stunning skyline – spot famous landmarks and use the interactive screens to find out more about them.
How scary is the Orbit slide?
The ArcelorMittal Orbit, which is Sir Anish Kapoor’s sculpture in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, to me, looks like a giant Shisha pipe, and the slide looping around it from a ground level view is slightly terrifying. You can even choose to abseil down it but I personally don’t have the courage to go that far!
Is the ArcelorMittal Orbit slide scary?
The slide is great fun and not too scary.
How scary is the orbit slide?
Is there a weight limit for the Orbit slide?
Combined tickets for the Orbit and the Slide cost £16.50 and can be booked on the website. To ride the slide you have to be at least 1.3m and aged 8 years old. The weight limit is 22 stone (308 lb).
