SPINNING AROUND
Closed UK attraction to reopen with ‘one-of-a-kind’ new adventure experience next year
It was originally built to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games
A CLOSED UK attraction is set to reopen with a "one-of-a-kind" new adventure experience next year.
The Olympic Park’s iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit has been closed since the start of 2024 for maintenance works as its previous management contract was coming to an end.
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The Orbit, which was built to commemorate the London 2012 Olympics, is the largest public sculpture in the United Kingdom and houses the world's longest tunnel slide.
It was planned to have roughly 350,000 visitors per year, but it has only had 1.2million since opening years ago.
However, Welsh adventure company Zip World thinks it can increase the Orbit's allure, reports.
It will formally assume control of the website's operations and relaunch it in the first half of 2025.
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The corporation has revealed that the new attraction, which is excitingly planned, is not a zip-wire, despite what one would naturally presume.
The company is collaborating with local planning officials to open the "European first-of-its-kind adventure at Zip World London," and it is investing £2.6m in the tall red tower.
But slide fans are not to worry as the original attraction is not going anywhere.
Andrew Hudson, CEO at Zip World, said: "This site marks our ninth location in the UK and our first in southeast England, which is a huge milestone for Zip World and what we hope will kick off a whole new era of excitement and adventure right in the heart of London.
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"This has the potential to generate increased visitor footfall, economic benefit and employment for the local area.
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"We look forward to seeing plans develop as we prepare to relaunch in early 2025."
It comes after one of Europe’s most well-known attractions is giving away free tickets worth a little under £30 this month.
La Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona, is handing out a whopping 20,000 tickets to the public, allowing them to enter the stunning basilica free of charge.
Tickets normally cost between €25-€40 (£20-£32).
The move is part of the celebrations for La Mercè festival, the Catalan capital’s largest public street party, celebrating the festival’s patron saint the Virgin of Grace.
There is a slight snag though as anyone who does get a free entry has only four days to use it – between September 21 and 24.
Locals and tourists are eligible to get their hands on the giveaway.
The iconic building is famously still under construction although now it has a completion date of 2026 – more than 100 years since its master architect Antoni Gaudi died.
Visitors will be able to take a tour of the basilica and learn more about the work being done to complete the Jesus Christ tower, which will become the highest point of the building once it’s finally completed.
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A fragment of the prototype of the cross used to crown the tower will be shown to the public for the first time.
La Sagrada Familia, or Sacred Family, draw some 3.2million visitors every years, making it Spain’s most popular visited monument.
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