LOCAL AREA

Westfield Stratford City is a vast shopping centre 15 minutes' walk from the hotel. With a mix of high street stores and designer boutiques, this modern mega-mall is the ideal destination for those in need of serious retail therapy. Feeling hungry? There are more than 60 places to dine, from casual spots to swish Champagne bars. You can also catch a movie at the on-site state-of-the-art cinema.

See London from a new point of view on the Emirates Air Line cable car. Soaring above the River Thames, it connects Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks, offering great views of the City, Canary Wharf and the Thames Barrier. It departs from Royal Victoria DLR and the O2 near North Greenwich underground, 11 and seven minutes respectively from Stratford station. Night flights run after dark.

Jump on two wheels at Lee Valley VeloPark, the velodrome arena built for the 2012 Olympic Games. Beginners can try a taster session on the mile-long, floodlit road circuit or take a spin around the velodrome in a group track cycling lesson. You can also experience the thrills of riding on the BMX track or head out on a mountain bike on one of the park's graded trails.

Many of the surrounding area’s attractions are easier to reach by bike than by foot or public transport. Look out for Santander Cycles docking stations which are dotted all over London, with eight new ones opening in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2016. They’re easy to hire with your credit or debit card. So why not jump on one and ride over to Lee Valley VeloPark?