Things to Do After V&A East: Make a Day of It in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

So you’ve just walked out of V&A East, after three hours in the Storehouse and your head’s still buzzing from the David Bowie Centre. Maybe you’ve just seen The Music is Black exhibition at the Museum and you’re not ready for the day to end. Either way, you’re in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and want to know what’s next.

Good news: you’re in the right place. The park is packed with things to do, and the best are all within walking distance of V&A East. Here’s what we’d recommend.

Draughts – Food, Drinks and Over 1,000 Board Games

We’ll start with ourselves because Draughts is the perfect next stop after V&A East.

We’re at 5 Aquatics Walk, a few minutes’ walk from both V&A East buildings, right inside the park. We’re a bar, board game kitchen, and lounge with a full food menu, a well-stocked bar, and over 1,000 board games to choose from.

Here’s why it works so well after a museum visit. You’ve spent hours looking at incredible things. Your brain needs a different kind of stimulation. Sitting down with a game, something creative, competitive, or silly, is the best reset you can get. Add food and drinks, and your V&A East visit goes from a great morning to a brilliant day.

If you’ve come with friends or family, this is when everyone starts comparing notes on what they saw. Get a game on the table, get food flowing, and let the conversation happen.

Book your table at draughtslondon.com – especially on weekends, when V&A East brings plenty of visitors into the park.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit

The UK’s tallest sculpture is hard to miss. It’s the 114.5-metre red steel structure you’ve probably spotted from V&A East. The viewing platform offers panoramic views across London, but the real draw is The Slide, a 178-metre tunnel spiraling around the outside. It’s as far from a quiet museum experience as you can get, and that’s why it works as a follow-up.

It’s a short walk from V&A East through the park.

London Aquatics Centre

Zaha Hadid’s wave-roofed masterpiece from the 2012 Olympics is open to the public for swimming, diving, and fitness sessions. If you’re visiting V&A East with kids who need to burn off energy, this is the answer. Even if you don’t go in, the architecture is worth seeing.

London Stadium

If there’s a match or event at London Stadium, the park takes on a different energy. West Ham United play here (capacity 62,500), and the stadium hosts concerts for up to 80,000. With the likes of Metallica and Take That, you can walk around outside and take in the scale of the place.

Check what’s on at London Stadium during your visit – we’ve got guides to events at the stadium on our blog.

Sadler’s Wells East

Part of the East Bank cultural quarter, Sadler’s Wells East brings world-class dance to the park. If there’s a performance on during your visit, it pairs perfectly with V&A East for a full day of culture. Check their programme in advance.

The Park Itself

Don’t underestimate walking. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a gorgeous green space with canals, gardens, summer fountains, and playgrounds for kids. After a few hours indoors at V&A East, a walk through the park towards Draughts is a lovely way to transition into the next part of your day.

Practical Tips for Things to Do After V&A East

Draughts is the closest food and drink option inside the park. We’re at 5 Aquatics Walk, a few minutes from V&A East. Book at draughtslondon.com.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit and Aquatics Centre both charge admission. Check opening times and prices before you go.
Stratford station connects to Central, Jubilee, Elizabeth Line, DLR, and National Rail. When you’re done exploring, getting home is easy.
V&A East Storehouse is open late on Thursdays and Saturdays. If you’ve done other things in the park during the day, you can visit the Storehouse in the evening until 10pm.

Frequently Asked Questions about Things to Do After V&A East

What is there to do after V&A East?

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has plenty within walking distance of V&A East. Draughts London Stratford offers food, drinks and over 1,000 board games just a few minutes away. The ArcelorMittal Orbit, London Aquatics Centre, Sadler’s Wells East and London Stadium are also in the park. It’s easy to make a full day of it.

Where should I go after V&A East?

Draughts London Stratford is the closest bar, board game kitchen and lounge to V&A East, just a short walk away at 5 Aquatics Walk. It’s the perfect place to sit down, eat, drink and decompress after a museum visit. Book at draughtslondon.com.

What is there to do near V&A East for families?

Draughts has board games for all ages in a library of over 1,000. The ArcelorMittal Orbit has a viewing platform and the world’s longest tunnel slide. London Aquatics Centre offers public swimming sessions. And Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has playgrounds, fountains and open spaces for kids to run around.

How far is Draughts from V&A East?

Just a few minutes’ walk. Both are inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Draughts is at 5 Aquatics Walk, London E20 2AS.

Is Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park free to visit?

Yes – the park itself is completely free and open to the public. Individual attractions within the park (like the ArcelorMittal Orbit or London Aquatics Centre) have separate admission charges. V&A East Storehouse and the permanent galleries at V&A East Museum are also free.

Can I spend a full day at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park?

Easily. Between V&A East (Storehouse and Museum), Draughts, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, London Aquatics Centre, Sadler’s Wells East, and the park itself, you could fill an entire day without running out of things to do. Add a London Stadium event and you’ve got even more.

What time does V&A East Storehouse close?

Standard hours apply most days, with late openings until 10pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. The late sessions are quieter and more atmospheric – a brilliant option if you’ve spent the day doing other things in the park.

How do I get to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park?

Stratford station is the main hub, served by the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines, the DLR and National Rail. From the station it’s about 10-15 minutes on foot into the park.