Friday 4 April 2008

Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, London, 6April 2008

The route

Click on a specific area on the map for details of events.

1. Wembley2. Ladbroke Grove 4. China Town5. Trafalgar Square6. Southbank Centre7. Somerset House8. St Pauls Cathedral9. Potter's Fields / More London10. Whitechapel High Street11. Stratford12. Canary Wharf13. North Greenwich

Torch Relay route PDF (483KB)

The map shows the route of the Torch Relay in London, with approximate timings. To be sure of seeing the Relay you should plan to arrive at your location at least 30 minutes in advance.

All events are free. The start and grand finale are also free, but will be ticketed. You can apply for tickets via the website.

The timings show the approximate times the Torch Relay passes. Special events at particular locations may begin earlier.

1. Wembley (10:30)

Special event with performances at Arena Square, outside Wembley Stadium (limited capacity, LB Brent ticket only). Community activities planned in central Harlsden.

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2. Ladbroke Grove (11:00)

A mini-carnival will be held at Ladbroke Grove with entertainers in Carnival Masquerade costumes performing to SOCA music.

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Notting Hill Gate (11:30)

In Notting Hill Gate a Latino Carnival band will entertain spectators evoking the carnival feeling for which Notting Hill is so famous.

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Oxford Street (12:00)

The Torch relay passes along the length of Oxford Street on an open top bus.

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4. China Town (12:45)

In Chinatown, the London Chinatown Chinese Association, in partnership with the Greater London Authority, has organised performances including costumed dragons and lions as well as decorating Gerrard Street with Chinese lanterns.

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Piccadilly Circus (12:50)

5. Trafalgar Square (13:00)

In Trafalgar Square, festivities will continue in front of Nelson’s column with performers and music raising the crowds’ excitement. A banner will be dropped from a lift in the centre of the square, which will rise from the stage to the accompaniment of a brass fanfare.

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6. Southbank Centre (13:30)

The Southbank Centre has created a spectacular welcome for the torch along the front terraces of the Royal Festival Hall with a choir of 600, Kathak, poetry, circus, hip-hop and beatboxing. The cast is made up of young people from Lambeth, Greenwich and Liverpool performing alongside Southbank Centre's Voice Lab, Riz MC, LakaD and with input from Artists in Residence Shlomo, Lemn Sissay, Gauri Sharma Tripathi and Stan Won't Dance.

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7. Somerset House (14:30)

Somerset House in Westminster has commissioned Aletta Collins to choreograph a unique dance piece that will be accompanied by music from the Bollywood Brass Band and 60 local primary school children.

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8. St Paul's Cathedral (14:45)

On the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in the City, the Band of the Scots Guards will welcome the flame with fanfares and music. The Lord Mayor and Dean of St Paul's will be present with over 150 schoolchildren dressed in Olympic-coloured T-shirts and waving flags.

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9. Potters Fields / More London (15:15)

In Southwark, outside City Hall at More London, Rhythms of the City, Chinese Dragon Dance and live drumming sessions will raise the atmosphere and continue the carnival spirit.

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Tower Bridge (15:30)

10. Whitechapel Road (15:45)

In Tower Hamlets see the Emperor and the Tiger spectacular and performances from Kinetika to celebrate the arrival of the torch near Whitechapel Tube.

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11. Stratford (16:30)

At Stratford in the London Borough of Newham a series of events will take place at different locations throughout the afternoon culminating with the arrival of the torch. Includes Carnival/Street performers, carnival and music floats and sporting activities. An aerial performance will take place at Theatre Square in Stratford alongside performances on the roof of the Stratford library and the Gerry Raffles Building as well as events in Meridian Square, Salway Road, inside Stratford shopping centre, Stratford Old Town Hall and Stratford station.

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12. Canary Wharf (17:00)

In Canary Wharf there will be carnival themed entertainment including acrobats, jugglers, stilt-walkers, street theatre, music shows, dance performances, face painters, children’s workshops, treasure hunts all throughout Canary Wharf's outdoor spaces and shopping malls. (Visit www.mycanarywharf.com for activity listings or pick up a leaflet)

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13. North Greenwich (17:30)

The Torch Relay in London ends at a grand finale at the Arena at North Greenwich climaxing with the spectacle of the arrival of the final torchbearer and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron.

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