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London Orbit slide review 2016


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Today I took the train out to London with the primary reason to try out the colossal new slide, which twists it's way down the iconic Mittel Orbit tower in the Olympic park. I also stopped off at Tate modern, Coca Cola London eye and a surprise fun fair with TWO new credits for me located within the Olympic Park.

 

The Slide

 

Firstly, let me start off by saying this thing is like out of a child's wonderful fantasy land, where they think it would be awesome if there was a giant slide twirling its way down from the very top to the bottom. Who on earth came up with the idea and then went ahead with it, I applaud you for your bravery. It seems so crazy to have this slide attached to the structure, and even after seeing pictures of the finished thing, it still made me wonder if I was seeing things right...yes, there is ACTUALLY a slide on that tower.

The tickets coast £10 for children (over 8's only and over 1.3m tall) and £15 for adults, which is actually very good value, considering that includes going up the tower, to the highest floor, and the slide as well. Your money could be spent on something a lot worse, like a bottle of wine.

The view is okay, but nothing special from the top, due to the fact it is out of the main London area, as you will see in the pictures. If you want to get iconic views of London, you are best to go up the shard or the eye (both of which are more expensive than the slide). Don't get me wrong though, it is still a nice half outdoor half indoor viewing deck.

After as much time as you want up at the top, it is you turn to get 'kitted up' to ride. This consists of a rugby hat, and arm protectors. I was not fussed by this at all, I would prefer to wear this than get a burn down my arm. Later I would find out why they were necessary! The staff are slightly boisterous but they are efficient at ensuring everything is sorted. I personally feel that the waiting area should have a soundtrack, or some ambient music in the background to make it more atmospheric, rather than systematic, however the queue was not very long, and within a few minutes, I was snug in a rug ready to pull myself into the long tube, that reminded me too much of a worm.

Now to the actual ride experience. You start off around a nice long corner in a clear tube, picking up speed down the surprisingly steep decent, then you hit the darkness. About one second after this, comes the least present part of the whole slide. Suddenly and un-expectantly, there is a corner, and a steep and unforgiving one at that. The person who I was with got whiplash around this corner, and I managed to get punched in the face by my own elbow. OW!

After that though the rest of the slide is very enjoyable and it was filled with twistyyyy goodness and great pacing, not to mention some surprising and smooth forces, especially towards the end. The light and dark transitions are nice, and seem to enhance the experience of total disorientation. The whole slide after that point is really fun and it is a great addition to the tower, which really needed that little extra something, and the worlds longest and tallest slide does the job perfectly.

 

It is definitely worth visiting, and now on to the pictures...

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The view from the new viewing gallery in the Tate Modern.

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I have no pictures of inside, but I went to see the O Keefe exhibition, and it was really good, she had some serious talent. Other 'art' in Tate was not so good. The free areas are just things like tubes stuck on a wall. hmmm.

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And into the Eye. Personally I preferred it when it was sponsored by EDF, as there is so much Coca Cola adverts pasted everywhere.

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It was kind of a standard London Eye experience. Some great views over the Thames and Hyde park. Note in the bottom right hand corner, what do you see...Yep, there was a random star flier in the middle of London. Nothing else there, just that, it was random.

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Mandatory shot of the houses or parliament.

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Panning...Panning...Get out of my way child...Panning...

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After that I tried to get into the aquarium, but standard annual pass holders are not allowed into any of the London attractions during August. Don't ask me how we got into the Eye.

After that we went down to Stratford on the Jubilee line from Waterloo, nice and easy. Once I plowed my way through Westfields, I arrived at the Olympic park, and was amazed at how vibrant it was. Having a large fair set up with two rollercoasters and a large screen showing the Olympics on did help.

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I went on my first spinning wild mouse, and I thought it was really good. We both sat on one side, and once we hit the second part, it was non stop insane spinning.

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Reasonably well themed and well maintained. Honestly, I was shocked when I came across a massive rollercoaster. I don't know about other countries, but this simply does not happen here.

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Now onto the next credit. A wacky worm, no, wale, no shark!

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I sat on the back row and it was fine. I had a good laugh on it and had no shame!

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Yeah, just about old enough so parents don't scowl at you.

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I think this is a reasonably new coaster, as it all looked clean and fresh. Here is a picture for the geeks.

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Worst part of this ride (yes, I am actually reviewing a wacky worm) were these trim breaks. I was seated at the back row and as we started going down the drop, I got exited for a nice pop of air time, however, as I crested the edge, the trims slammed on, making the drop uncomfortable and air-less. I have also never been on a waky worm, but I did not think they were trimmed like this.

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Aaaaannd, the tower. it still looks nice and modern.

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All the park areas are still well maintained.

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You can see the slide wrapping it self around the tower. It does slightly damage the aesthetics of the slide, but the tube is so thin you can hardly see it.

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A closer look at this Wiegand piece of art. If Tate taught me anything, it is that ANYTHING can be a work of art.

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See, from a distance, you don't really see it. It does look like it is floating though, which is slightly unnerving.

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More tower goodness.

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It is suspended from these wires, to allow it to slightly flex.

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weeeee. It is a really twisty slide, and so fun. Who says slides are for kids!

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See the first steep corner there at the top. It is a jaw/neck/back/EVERYTHING breaker.

This ride breaks many records...and bones.

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Here is an image showing the clear bit of the slide. You cannot really see people going down it though, because it is so fast.

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Here is the view from the top looking over the now West Ham stadium.

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Cannery Warf is fairly close.

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See, it is a little out of the main London city area.

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Shard scraping some clouds

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Your heart begins to beat harder as you realize that you are going to slide, straight down from this height.

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The start of the tube and the loading area.

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And off you go!

 

Thanks for reading!

Edited by Henry M
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wow. . beautiful, beautiful pics!

 

I'm SO jealous, and so wish I was there!

 

(you should edit the lower title to note the London pics.. .I'll bet folks think it's Rio Olympic park, and might not be as interested in seeing, as they would be for pics of London)

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I had no idea this slide existed and it looks absolutely insane! Do you ride one at a time or like... bundled together in a row with a friend? I thought you mentioned something like that.

 

Anyways... this looks awesomely terrifying.

 

You go down one person at a time, so it is a solo and personal ride. There is not much of a queue as there are very limited numbers so the one person at a time does not really create a wait.

 

(you should edit the lower title to note the London pics.. .I'll bet folks think it's Rio Olympic park, and might not be as interested in seeing, as they would be for pics of London)

 

Thanks for the tip, I have done it now!

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I would love to see them put a slide on a poler coaster, you get in a giant sac (like one for sac races) and then you get in a drop capsule like on certain waterslides, the floor retracts and you go through the slide after doing a short "free fall", that would be so freaking awesome!!!

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^ Wow, that sounds like a crazy awesome idea! I really hope that happens, especially after being on this thing. A drop at the start of the ride would get it going really well and on a polar coaster tower it would be ridiculously long!

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In a time where so many things demand rationality and have become data-driven, it's great to see a big score for "just because we could." Talk about a support enthusiast's paradise! The whole thing looks tremendous, and this is the first I'm seeing of it. Thanks for sharing!

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That slide tower looks both hideous and awesome at the same time.

 

I will have to send this to our friends in London and see if they have done it. They live about as close as your shot of Canary Wharf (you get almost the same view of CW from their tower apartment), so they can't be very far from it.

 

Thanks for posting this, Henry...I LOVE London and England & never get tired of seeing TR's from over the pond!!!

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In a time where so many things demand rationality and have become data-driven, it's great to see a big score for "just because we could." Talk about a support enthusiast's paradise! The whole thing looks tremendous, and this is the first I'm seeing of it. Thanks for sharing!

 

it was the Olympic torch. Awesome to see them re-purpose it like this.

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You did it! I thought that almost nothing could surprise me anymore......but the London Orbit slide?!? So simple, yet so outrageous. Thanks a million for your report on this new London phenomenon. I lived in London many years ago, and boy have times changed! Believe me, this slide is what my Brit friends would call "BRILLIANT!"

(And your photography really helped capture the total experience.)

 

Alice

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You did it! I thought that almost nothing could surprise me anymore......but the London Orbit slide?!?

(And your photography really helped capture the total experience.)

This.

 

I am certain I predicted this slide in many dreams around 1986-1990.

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You did it! I thought that almost nothing could surprise me anymore......but the London Orbit slide?!?

(And your photography really helped capture the total experience.)

This.

 

I am certain I predicted this slide in many dreams around 1986-1990.

I love it how it feels like early childhood dreams have come true. It may be slightly sketchy around some parts but that is what makes it so good!

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