International Way, London

Why you should experience International Way in London, England.

International Way is a civic corridor where Stratford's Olympic legacy, metropolitan regeneration, world-class sporting venues, and East London's contemporary urban identity converge within one of Britain's most ambitious redevelopment districts.

Running through Stratford between Stratford City and Hackney Wick, the corridor connects Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with one of London's busiest transport hubs, linking internationally recognized sporting venues, cultural institutions, and public spaces created through the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Its broad pedestrian avenues, contemporary architecture, and landscaped public realm reflect the transformation of former industrial land into a thriving destination for sport, education, culture, and commerce. Ongoing investment continues strengthening the corridor as the principal gateway into the Olympic Park and Stratford Waterfront. The result is an experience defined by civic ambition, urban renewal, and one of East London's foremost civic corridors.

What you should know about International Way.

International Way is best known for being constructed as part of the Stratford City and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park masterplan following London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, among the largest urban regeneration programmes in modern British history. The corridor provides the principal approach to London Stadium, designed by Populous and completed in 2011 as the Olympic Stadium before reopening in 2016 as the home of West Ham United Football Club and UK Athletics. International Way also serves the London Aquatics Centre, designed by Dame Zaha Hadid with its distinctive wave-inspired roof, alongside the Copper Box Arena, the Lee Valley VeloPark, and the wider Olympic Park venue network created for the 2012 Games. The surrounding district forms part of the London Legacy Development Corporation's long-term regeneration programme, which continues directing planning, public realm improvements, and investment across Stratford and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Westfield Stratford City opened beside International Way in 2011 with more than 1.9 million square feet of retail and leisure space, establishing one of Europe's largest urban shopping centres and a principal gateway into the Olympic district. The ArcelorMittal Orbit, designed by Sir Anish Kapoor with engineer Cecil Balmond, rises approximately 114.5 metres above the park as Britain's tallest public sculpture overlooking the corridor. Stratford International station connects directly with International Way through High Speed 1 domestic rail services, reinforcing the corridor's role within one of London's most significant transport interchanges. Stratford Waterfront continues extending International Way's civic importance through the V&A East, BBC Music Studios, Sadler's Wells East, and the London College of Fashion campus, creating one of the capital's largest concentrations of newly developed cultural and educational institutions.

How to fold International Way into your trip.

International Way is best experienced as an exploration of Stratford's Olympic venues, contemporary architecture, and regeneration legacy.

Begin at London Stadium, where the centrepiece of the London 2012 Olympic Games introduces the scale of the redevelopment before following International Way through the Olympic district. Continue to the London Aquatics Centre, where Zaha Hadid's sweeping architecture reflects the engineering ambition that defined the Games. Conclude at the ArcelorMittal Orbit, where panoramic views reveal the full extent of Stratford's transformation into one of Europe's leading regeneration projects. The progression moves naturally from Olympic competition through architectural innovation before concluding with the defining observation point overlooking the entire district.

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