Lee Valley VeloPark

The Lee Valley VeloPark in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, is one of Europe's most advanced cycling centers and hosted the track and BMX events at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Hopkins Architects designed the velodrome with a double-curved roof clad in West African FSC sapele wood for 6,000 spectators; the cable-net roof uses half the steel of a comparable arena. Alongside the Olympic track the park offers a BMX racing circuit, mountain-bike trails through the park and a 6 km road circuit. Unlike many Olympic venues the VeloPark stayed fully operational after 2012: visitors can book track sessions, BMX lessons or guided mountain-bike rides with rental bikes, no pro license required.