2024 is the ultimate summer of sport. As the tennis championships came to a close at Wimbledon earlier this month, and the final goal was scored at the Euros in Germany, Europe is now gearing up for one of the biggest sporting events in the world: the Olympic Games. Hosted in Paris from 26 July to 11 August – and swiftly followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September – there’s plenty to get excited about in the capital even if you weren’t able to nab tickets to the Stade de France. Here’s where to watch the Olympics 2024 in London, plus a whole host of celebrations and events you won’t want to miss.
Official fanzone at King’s Cross
Bask in the summer breeze and enjoy evenings at King’s Cross, the ultimate sporting destination thanks to its Team GB Fanzone. From 26 July-11 August, Lewis Cubitt Square will be transformed to give fans at home the chance to celebrate alongside the athletes and join the crowds cheering on Team GB in Paris. Each day from 10am, visitors to the free Fanzone can watch sporting events on the big screen, enjoy live music, try their hand at Olympic-themed activities and participate in a jam-packed programme of onstage entertainment, including Q&As and medal celebrations with Team GB’s returning athletes.
Visit kingscross.co.uk
Go For Gold Menu at Brasserie Zedel, Piccadilly
Image: Emma Pharaoh
Parisian-inspired Brasserie Zedel is celebrating the Olympics with its new Go for Gold menu: a special, speedy set menu designed to be enjoyed in 45 minutes. Available from 26 July-11 August, enjoy two limited-edition courses full of Zedel favourites, including quiche florentine and céleri rémoulade, followed by steak haché et frites, saumon poché au concombre marine,and sardines a la provencale. For those with a sweet tooth, a choice of desserts is available including the signature crème brulee, gateau foret noire and peach melba coupe.
Visit brasseriezedel.com
Parisian afternoon tea at The Dilly, Piccadilly
Transport yourself from the bustling streets of Piccadilly to the heart of France with The Dilly’s limited edition Parisian afternoon tea. Served on the hotel’s terrace, this family-friendly afternoon tea experience – inspired by the Olympics – combines London produce with Parisian classics and is available until 31 August. Enjoy nods to French flavours with the Mona Lisa (pistachio and honey cake) and the Eiffel Tower, crafted with chocolate mousse, mandarin gel and sable biscuit, alongside classic savoury morsels such as jambon-beurre and smoked salmon crepe.
Visit thedillylondon.com
Olympic Challenge with United Fitness, Chelsea and Battersea
To celebrate the Olympics, United Fitness will be hosting a sporting event to remember combining the best of gymnastics, boxing, cycling, Pilates, and yoga across its gyms in south west London. Hosted at Kobox Chelsea and Boom Cycle in Battersea on 27 July, enjoy an array of high-energy, low-impact classes from 9.15am until 1.30pm where, for £50, fitness enthusiasts can enjoy five 30-minute classes, complimentary boxing wraps and gloves, a refreshing protein shake, goody bag and refreshments throughout the day.
Start your day with Barrecore’s tiny isometric exercises designed to work every major muscle group before a sweaty Kobox boxing session. After a short walk to Boom Cycle Battersea, immerse yourself in an energising cycling class where you can switch off and focus solely on your ride, before reformer Pilates and Triyoga sessions to relax and unwind.
Visit eventbrite.co.uk
Omega x Olympics pop-up at Selfridges
This summer, luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega is inviting visitors to Selfridges to take a deep dive into its timekeeping history. Having transformed the department store’s Corner Shop into a reimagining of a swimming pool, the brand’s new pop-up will be open until 8 August to celebrate Omega’s role as Official Timekeeper at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.
When viewed through the Oxford Street window, the tiled Corner Shop gives the illusion of being underwater while, inside, Omega has adorned the display with the brand’s famous swimming touchpads, introduced in 1967, which allow competing swimmers to stop their own time. Here, shoppers can also view Omega’s watch collections all set against a backdrop of timekeeping videos, alongside live streams of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Visit omegawatches.com
Toast Team GB at Mount St. Restaurant, Mayfair
The Italian Room
Image: Simon Brown
For the duration of the Paris Olympics, Mount St. Restaurant in Mayfair will be celebrating every Team GB gold medal by sending a complimentary round of champagne to all guests. If a Team GB gold medal win is announced during lunch or dinner on any day of the Olympics, lucky diners will be treated to a glass of Louis Roederer on the house to toast the winners in Paris. Chin chin!
Visit mountstrestaurant.com
Summer of Sport at Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf’s summer screens will be serving up all the action from the Olympics for free at Canada Square Park from 26 July-11 August. Settle in front of the big screens with a picnic blanket and a selection of snacks picked from nearby restaurants, or opt for a refreshing drink from the Oasis Bar and Terrace to quench your thirst as the athletes go for gold. You won’t be short on more decadent dining options either, with Canada Square Park’s Wahaca, The Ivy and The Parlour overlooking the screens.
Fancy a splash after watching the diving? Open water swimming is back by popular demand at the clear waters of Middle Dock until the end of October. Elsewhere, discover East London’s only free minigolf course, with the return of the nine-hole course by Craig & Karl at Montgomery Square. The free ping-pong tables are also back at Montgomery Square and Wren Landing, with visitors able to pick up bats and balls from event stewards at everyday between 12pm-6pm.
Visit canarywharf.com
Olympic-inspired menus by D&D London
German Gymnasium. Image: Mooncake Pictures
Coq D'Argent
This summer, restaurant group D&D London is embracing the Paris 2024 games with a series of Olympic-inspired menus and cocktails across its venues. From the opening ceremony to the final medal count, diners will have the chance to experience the thrill of the games through exclusive dishes that capture the essence and excitement of the world-renowned sporting event. Highlights include 100 Wardour Street’s Gold Medal, featuring chocolate crumble and raspberry two ways with sorbet, and Coq d’Argent’s Triathlon Tartare: a trio of salmon, sea bream and tuna tartare.
Those in Chelsea should head to the Bluebird for its Olympic breakfast, serving glazed bacon chops, cheese and onion hash browns, Scotch eggs, vine tomatoes and onion rings, while German Gymnasium in King’s Cross will transform its interior with Olympic-themed décor while serving a limited edition cocktail, The Olympian. Think saffron-infused Tanqueray, jasmine syrup, Italicus and lemon juice topped up with rose-infused Mediterranean tonic for a fresh and bubbly serve to toast Team GB.
Visit danddlondon.com
Olympics menu at La Petite Maison
Mayfair’s French Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, La Petite Maison, will be celebrating with a special menu available throughout the tournament. Over at the bar, enjoy the Olympiade cocktail, inspired by the Olympic rings and made exclusively with French spirits, such as Grey Goose vodka, Suze, champagne, and St Germain. The kitchen, meanwhile, will be serving its signature vanilla cheesecake, adorned with the Olympic ring design, as the perfect complement to the celebratory cocktail.
Visit lpmrestaurants.com
Olympic burgers at The Butcher’s Tap and Grill, Chelsea
Emily Campbell
In celebration of a jam-packed summer of sport, Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge has teamed up with two of England’s most decorated athletes for a series of collaborative burgers, available at The Butcher’s Tap and Grill in Chelsea. British weightlifting champion, Emily Campbell, has worked with the chef to create a limited edition Clean and Jerk Burger, with £1 from each sale going to Action for Sport. Available from 15 July-27 August, indulge in fiery jerk chicken topped with smoked applewood cheese, pineapple and sweetcorn salsa and a sweet chilli mayonnaise.
Next up, celebrated Paralympian Naomi Riches will join forces with the Chelsea pub in honour of the Paralympics from 28 August-8 September. With a number of medals under her belt as an adaptive rower, Riches’ Taste of Victory Burger will see a crispy fried venison burger topped with Lyonnaise onions, cheddar cheese, wholegrain mustard mayonnaise and a fried pickle on top of the bun. The Butcher’s Tap and Grill will donate £1 from each sale to Meals from Marlow, an initiative set up by Kerridge to deliver meals to those struggling in the surrounding areas.
Visit thebutcherstapandgrill.co.uk
Summer of Sport at Spitalfields, Shoreditch
Spitalfields is kickstarting the 2024 Olympics by streaming the opening ceremony on a big screen for free on 26 July. From 6pm onwards, the 188-inch screen located on Bishops Square invites spectators to lounge on deck chairs and enjoy offers and promotions from nearby food vendors as the games begin, while giving Londoners and visitors a taste of what’s in store for the rest of the summer as Spitalfields shows all the key moments from Olympics and Paralympics.
Visit spitalfields.co.uk
Summer In The Square, Marylebone
Marylebone’s Summer in the Square will return for its tenth year as it screens the Olympics from 26 July-11 August. Transforming Portman Square Gardens into the ultimate games pit stop in the heart of the capital, watch the tournament in style on a deck chair with a drink in hand. This year will see the return of the much-loved Guest Kitchen, a rotating pop-up food space featuring local favourite restaurants plus street food stalls, and the Wellness Den, while private members’ club Home House will provide a refreshing bar and drinks station for all to enjoy.
Visit makeitmarylebone.co.uk
Summer of Sport at Eccleston Yards, Belgravia
Ready to host Londoners for the entirety of 2024’s Summer of Sport is Belgravia’s Eccleston Yards, screening both the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. With more than 100 seats to choose from, spectators can immerse themselves in the action while enjoying a refreshing drink from the Wild by Tart pop-up bar, and an array of food and drink offerings from the surrounding eateries. Those with a sweet tooth should head to the Biscuiteers’ boutique to indulge in The Games 2024 biscuit tin, featuring a delicious selection of hand-iced biscuits – perfect for snacking on during the Olympic Games.
Visit belgravialdn.com
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