The View Tube, a new visitor and community venue on The Greenway next to the Olympic Park, was officially opened today by the Minister for the Thames Gateway.

Shahid Malik MP met London Wildlife Trust staff, volunteers and children taking part in our Autumn playscheme during a visit to the new community facility. 

The bright lime green View Tube building is made from recycled shipping containers and includes a café, education, arts and information spaces, bicycle hiring and a magnificent viewing platform, joining residents and visitors at the one and only community place where you can see the Olympic Park taking shape.  

The View Tube is an integral part of the long term regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley and will become a focal point for local residents where they can see and feel a part of the fast-developing Olympic Park. It will also play a major role boosting ‘Olympic tourism’ in London. 

Paul Brickell, Chief Executive, Leaside Regeneration Ltd, said: “Leaside Regeneration is very excited to be opening this fantastic new facility. The project came together extremely quickly as a result of very effective collaborative working between ODA, LTGDC, Thames Water and their contractors.

“We are delighted to have The Field Studies Council, London Wildlife Trust, Bike Works and the Counter Café on board and look forward to attracting many more people and organisations to visit and to work in this unique location.”

John Armitt , ODA chairman said: “The View Tube has an unrivalled view of the Olympic Park and will be a fantastic facility for people to come and watch the Olympic Park taking shape between now and 2012. The ODA is currently carrying out improvement work to the Greenway which is a key walking and cycling path for the area. The addition of this community centre will help encourage local people to use this vital route and ensure that the Greenway continues to be a visitor attraction after 2012.”

The View Tube is a partnership project between Leaside Regeneration, London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, the Olympic Delivery Authority and Thames Water, it includes a café, education, arts and information spaces, bike hire and a viewing platform over the Olympic Park and Stratford City. 

The View Tube will be open to the public from 9 November 2009.

A few more pictures from the launch event, which included London Wildlife Trust's Animal Olympics and cycling, lead by the lovely people at Bikeworks:

From January 2010 London Wildlife Trust and the Field Studies Council will be running education sessions for primary and secondary schools respectively from the newly opened View Tube.

A number of options will be available to teachers and education groups:

• Taught courses. 2 hour sessions led by FSC View Tube education staff

• Self taught courses. 1 hour sessions which are self led by visiting teachers, but supported by FSC View Tube resources and handouts.

• Hire for education groups. The classroom will also be available for hire during twilight and weekend sessions

The classroom has space for 30 students and accompanying staff. Situated on the first floor of a specially constructed centre looking directly into the Olympic park, it has a panoramic view of the stadium and the aquatic centre. The View Tube is easily accessible by tube and rail, approximately 30 minutes from London’s mainline stations.

Curriculum based topics for the following subjects are being developed:

• Geography
• History
• Science
• Arts and Crafts
• Citizenship

The tariffs will be announced shortly, at which time an automated booking form will be available.  In the meantime, enquiries can be made via theviewtube@leasideregeneration.co.uk