The London 2012 Olympic Summer Games are looming closer. Though the games, which begin on July 27, are being billed as the London Olympics, the entire country will be caught up in Olympic fever and there are events being held as far away from London as Glasgow, Scotland! Though tickets for events are becoming increasingly rare, you can still take part in the Olympic spirit by visiting some of the sporting venues that are outside of the epicentre.
Rowing: The Olympic rowing and sprint canoe events are set to be held at Eton Dorney Rowing Centre, an existing venue located about 25 miles from London. The eight lane course is set in a 400-acre park in the shadow of Windsor Castle, so offers visitors to the area much more than just the Olympic events. With Eton Dorney being so close to London you can have the best of both worlds, city excitement and country calm. If you’re looking for an extra special place to stay why not consider a luxury holiday cottage? You can spend the day taking in all the excitement of the Olympic events and spend your evenings relaxing in your five-star cottage. Sykes Cottages even have luxury cottages with private pools and hot tubs – now that’s the way to spend a holiday!
Mountain Biking: One of the newer and more exciting events in the Olympic schedule is mountain biking. The event is to be held at Hadleigh Farm, a Salvation Army owned grass and woodland park in the Essex countryside, which was chosen for the technical challenges it will present to the riders. This venue is only to be temporarily set up as a mountain biking course, but after the games the local council and the Salvation Army will consider whether parts of the course will be left intact for public use.
Football: The UK is absolutely football mad so the area surrounding the football venues is sure to be electric, especially when team Great Britain are competing. Hampden Park Glasgow, St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the City of Coventry Stadium, and the iconic Old Trafford stadium in Manchester are all set to host football events outside of London and are sure to be absolutely electric during the games. These are the places to come if you want to experience the Olympic spirit without having to remortgage your home.
The London 2012 Olympic Games are set to be a spectacle like no other. The entire world will be focused on the UK, whether through their TVs or in person at the venues. If you want to be part of the excitement but can’t stomach the London prices why not take a look at some of the venues outside of the City of London? Avoid the crowds by heading as far away as Glasgow, or have the best of both worlds by staying just outside of the city near Lake Dorney. Whatever you choose you’re sure to have a memorable time, even if you’re just watching the events from the pub!
You can save a bundle on accommodation if you travel in a group and rent a large holiday cottage outside of the city and split the cost. Prices within the city of London are high at the best of times and are sure to be astronomical during the games.
Author: Amanda Andrews