Going to The Orbit? Don't try going in a big group

The Orbit, that funny red chain-linked sculpture that featured in the London Olympics, is now open to the public. "I didn't know you could go up it," was one comment we heard here at Village News.

The fact is that you can, and, with a magnificent view from the top, it is well worth a visit, if only to look down on the London Eye - which even costs more. You can take a lift up and walk down if you like. Unfortunately you cannot walk up it due to, we were told, those two perennial spoil sports - 'ealth 'n' safety - as, "if you have a heart attack on the way up it's very difficult for us to get to you." "It will be just as difficult if I have a heart attack on the way down." "Yes, but you expend more energy going up. There are 455 steps after all." "The Eiffel Tower has 1,665 but you can still walk up it."

We like it so much that we've added it to our "Out & About" section on www.chislehurstpettswoodandbickleyvillagenews.co.uk.

Whilst you're there you can also visit the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with plenty to see and do. Visit their respective websites, www.arcelormittalorbit.com and www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk for more information.

Being an Olympic legacy project there had to be an element of governmental nose-sticking-in to make sure that something doesn't work properly. Because the Olympic legacy involved trying to include the whole of the UK, if you try to book a ticket over the 'phone you end up speaking to someone in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. If you want to book a group ticket, they take your details, contact someone at the Orbit and get them to 'phone you back! We waited two days for a non-existent return 'phone call and were then told that their communications systems hadn't been working well that week. As if we needed telling! In the end "Newcastle" told us that we (24 of us) just needed to turn up, and speak to "xyz." "But how much will it cost us, with the group discount?" "I don't know - they'll tell you at the Orbit when you arrive."

Marks out of 10 for experience: 10 Brilliant. Don't use the onsite facilities though. Cross over the road to moka east cafe at The View Tube on Greenway. The best cafe in E15 (with its own great view.)
Marks out of 10 for booking: Not knowing the price until we arrived, sounds like Arthur Daley territory - surprised they didn't demand "cash only." 0
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