THE LINE
WEBSITE: WWW.THE-LINE.ORG
LOCATION: URBAN WALK BETWEEN QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK AND THE 02.
NEAREST AIRPORTS: LONDON CITY AIRPORT, NORTH GREENWICH TUBE STATION OR STRATFORD STATION
The Line is London’s first dedicated urban art trail which runs between The 02 and the Olympic Park, along the waterways and up the Greenwich Meridian. Not only will you see some great sculptures on the walk, which takes about 3 hours at a comfortable pace, but you will also discover some beautiful and historical sights of London’s east end.
Left: Gary Hume, Liberty Grip, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Adam Kaleta. Right: Richard Wilson, A Slice of Reality. Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Matt Cuzner.
Starting (as I did) from the 02, one follows signs that help point the way and a map, available on the website, which details the sculptures and landmarks you will encounter. The sculptures are on loan and do occasionally change, but when I did the walk I saw sculptures by Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Abigail Fallis, Alex Chinneck, Gary Hume, Eduardo Paolozzi, Sterling Ruby, Richard Wilson, and Anish Kapoor, to name but a few.
Left: Signage to be found on The Line to help show you the way. Right: Screenshot of The Line interactive map, available on the website.
The Line curator, Megan Piper, and her team have been busy in organising events and further collaborations to enhance the experience and get people involved, all of which are detailed on the site. One such collaboration is with artist Rana Begum, which will bring together art, film, ballet, and fashion in a project titled Catching Colour that promises to be a spectacle of colour, light and sound. Events include bird spotting and nest making workshops or Sketchcrawl: Imagine The Line, an artist-led tour, but make sure you check the site for the latest events and opportunities.
Left: Joanna Rajkowska, The Hatchling, Cody Dock. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis. Right: Alex Chinneck, A Bullet from a Shooting Star, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis.
As you make your way up the river, you will also see wondrous views of old industrial London and various regeneration projects, including the Abby Mills Pumping Station (nicknamed the Cathedral of Sewage), The Olympic Park and Aquatics Centre, and the beautiful Grade I listed Three Mills. As it is all outdoors you can do the trail walking or cycling, and it is a great thing to do with the whole family (including the dog!).
Left: Three Mills. Right: View of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The route obliges one to cross the river Thames where you can opt to use the underground or take the Emirates Air Line and bask in the beautiful view of London crossing the river. There are various places recommended on the map should you want to stop for lunch or for a cup of coffee and cake such as the House Mill Cafe or The Print House Bar & Kitchen for slow-cooked food.
Left: Laura Ford, Bird Boy, Royal Victoria Dock. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis. Right: View from the Emirates Air Line.
What I really like about this walk is that the original source of seed funding came from a crowdfunding campaign, so there is that sense of community, though you have real art experts running the show which means some smart editorial choices and quality. A winning combination
Left: Antony Gormley, Quantum Cloud, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Emily Lovell. Right: Thomson and Craighead, Here, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis.