A red steel scribble made real—London’s most elegant piece of structural mischief.
Sculpture and observation tower in the Olympic Park in Stratford, London.
Visitor Guide
Pay for the top only if visibility is decent; if it’s foggy, the best part is actually the stair and the steel knots from mid-level.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park paths with a low angle looking up, late afternoon; for night shots, blue hour when the red steel glows against a darkening sky.
Ticketed attraction with seasonal hours—official opening times/prices are variable; check the booking calendar. Source: https://arcelormittalorbit.com/visit/opening-times-prices/
It looks chaotic, but it’s a disciplined load-path game: the ‘tangle’ is choreographed to keep the tower stable while feeling unstable.
45–90 minutes
Design & Structure
Digitally coordinated freeform steelwork: complex geometry rationalized into fabricable segments, with BIM-driven coordination for connections, tolerances, and erection sequencing.
Painted steel exoskeleton—material chosen for expressive curvature, prefabrication, and visible connections.
Stability through geometry: braced steel loops create a stiff, triangulated system disguised as a scribble.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with ArcelorMittal Orbit — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
Nearby in London Borough of Newham
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed ArcelorMittal Orbit?+
ArcelorMittal Orbit was designed by Anish Kapoor and completed in 2012. It is located in London Borough of Newham, United Kingdom.
Where is ArcelorMittal Orbit located?+
ArcelorMittal Orbit is located in London Borough of Newham, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 51.5383°, -0.0133°.
When was ArcelorMittal Orbit built?+
ArcelorMittal Orbit was completed in 2012. It was designed by Anish Kapoor.
Can I visit ArcelorMittal Orbit?+
ArcelorMittal Orbit is a real building in London Borough of Newham that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.