EXPERT INTERVIEW WITH THE SLIDE AT THE ARCELOR MITTAL ORBIT
If you were lucky enough to go the London Olympics in 2012, you may have seen the unveiling of The ArcelorMittal Orbit, located in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Standing at a whopping 114.5m, the Orbit is the UK’s tallest sculpture, and now a familiar feature of the city skyline. However, you may not have heard there’s now a slide running through it! Opened to the public in 2016, The Slide has gone one step further in bolstering the Orbit’s claim to fame – it’s the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide! We caught up with Andrea, Trade Sales Manager, and asked him a few questions about the exhilarating experience…
Q: Please can you tell us how it all began for The Slide at The ArcelorMittal Orbit?
A: With many viewing towers in London, visitors are spoiled for choice on where to get the best view of the city. At the ArcelorMittal Orbit we wanted to provide something completely unique to go alongside a viewing experience and so, in June 2016, we opened The Slide.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit’s original sculptor, Anish Kapoor, invited Carsten Holler, famous for his slide installations, to create a piece of art that would complement the existing structure. The result was the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide which allows thrill seekers to descend from the viewing platforms to ground level in under 40 seconds.
Q: How fast can you go on The Slide?
A: In the exhilarating 40-second trip, riders slide on a specially designed mat and hit speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
Q: What is your favourite London landmark that you can see from the ArcelorMittal Orbit?
A: There’s loads to see from our viewing platforms and external observation walkway suspended 80m above the ground. From Big Ben, Gherkin and the O2 to a bird’s eye view of the iconic London 2012 venues. My favourite one is definitely St Paul’s Cathedral.
Q: What else is there to do at the venue?
A: You can get up close to London’s landmarks with innovative and interactive touchscreens that allow you to zoom into the view and learn more about the city. You can also flip the horizon in Anish Kapoor’s two huge concave mirrors and enjoy the gentle descent of the 455 steps that wind their way around the sculpture and immerse you in a collection of distinctive London sounds.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add that we haven’t covered?
A: At 114.5m tall, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is UK’s tallest sculpture, 22m taller than the Statue of Liberty and six times taller than the Angel of the North.
The Slide is the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide at 178m long and 76m high. With the breathtaking views, you’ll experience Londons Skylive from a truly unique sightseeing experience.
Thank you to Andrea for answering our questions. Keep your eyes peeled for our Staff Visit to The Slide in the next few weeks – we can’t wait!
