The O2 Arena (London)

The O2 Arena, commonly known as the O2, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the centre of The O2 entertainment complex on the Greenwich Peninsula in southeast London. It opened in its present form in 2007. The arena was built under the Millennium Dome (renamed The O2), a large dome-shaped building built to house an exhibition celebrating the turn of the third millennium; as the structure still stands over the arena, The Dome remains a name in common usage for the venue.

General information

Official website: theo2.co.uk

Arena capacity: 20,000 spectators

Address: Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51.5029°N 0.0032°E

Year of construction: 2007

Seating plan of The O2 Arena

Seats at The O2 Arena are found in three sections. The arena floor normally consists of seat blocks A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2 and C4. Seats are numbered from 1 at stage right to 54 at stage left on the arena floor. The lower tier of seating consists of seat blocks 101 at stage right in a horse shoe shape round to seat block 112 at stage left. Seat blocks 106 and 107 are furthest from the stage in this tier of seating.

For concert performances, the seating behind the stage in this tier is not normally used. This consists of seat blocks 113 – 118. In the upper tier of seating you will find seat block 401 at stage right, in a horse shoe shape round to seat block 422 at stage left. In this tier of seating, seat blocks 411 and 412 are furthest from the stage. Seat rows a The O2 Arena are assigned a letter, normally from A – Z (omitting I and O). A closest to the front, to Z at the back.

In some instances, seat blocks 106 and 107 are assigned extra seat rows at the front of the block, these are given letter codes from AA – HH, AA being the front row. Seat numbers at The O2 Arena are assigned across all blocks. In the lower tier of seating, seat number 1 is found in seat block 118. Seats are then numbered in an anticlockwise direction through each seat block up to a maximum seat number 543 in seat block 118. In the upper tier, seats are numbered from a minimum number of 451 in seat block 401 in an anticlockwise direction through each seat block to a maximum seat number of 989 in seat block 422.

Where to buy tickets?

You can book a range of tickets online on the arena’s official website www.theo2.co.uk  Simply choose the event you wish to book and click on “Buy Tickets”. There you will be able to select the tickets option.

How to get there?

When planning your trip to the O2, use their postcode – SE10 0DX – in a popular route planning site such as Google Maps or the AA Route planner and you can decide on the best route to the venue.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers

Take to the river and travel to The O2 by boat with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. Enjoy a seat once on board, fresh air, a café bar and the best view of London. It’s definitely the most comfortable way to get to The O2. The River Bus stops at 24 piers across the capital linking North Greenwich directly to central London including London Bridge, Tower, Embankment, Westminster and London Eye. Services run every 20 minutes throughout the day from early in the morning until late in the evening.

Paying for river travel with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers couldn’t be easier, there are different options available. Choose the most convenient for you.

• Contactless payment or oyster;
• Ticketoffice/ machine;
• Thames Clippers ticket app;
• Uber App;
• Online.

On select event nights, sail back into town after the show ends! Pre-book your ticket for a guaranteed seat.

The first Express service will depart promptly, 15 minutes after showdown. Further sailings will depart shortly after at regular intervals, until all vessels have departed.

Tube And Train

North Greenwich is a London Underground station served by the Jubilee line. Get here from Central London in 20 minutes. Or Stratford in 10 minutes.

Station Facilities:

• Escalators;
• Help Points;
• Toilets;
• Payphones;
• Ticket Halls;
• Euro Cash Machines;
• Gates;
• Lifts;
• WiFi;
• Cash Machines.

Bus

Jump on the 108, 129, 132, 161, 188, 422, 472 or 486. They all stop at North Greenwich station.

Visitors can get the 188 bus (24 hour) direct to/from central London via Waterloo.

Visiting from Kent? Whether you live in Canterbury or Medway, the Stagecoach Express is a great way to get to The O2. The coach stops right outside, beside North Greenwich Underground Station. The coaches are kitted out with everything you could need for a comfortable ride – from free WiFi to power sockets and air conditioning and the service runs hourly, seven days a week.

Cable Car

Reaching heights of 90 metres London’s IFS Cloud Cable Car offers breathtaking, aerial views of the capital’s skyline.

At just under 300ft, the cable car is the highest observation point over the Thames, spanning just over 1km across the river.

The cable car is a must do leisure attraction for Londoners and visitors and is one of the capital’s most popular observation attractions.

Cabins arrive every 30 seconds and a single crossing usually takes ten minutes.

Parking

The O2 has over 2,100 parking spaces available, so it’s easy to arrive by car.

The O2 inside the M25 and outside the Congestion Zone. The O2 is signposted from the M25, the A2 and A20 (from the South East), and the M11 (from the North). Use the postcode for route planners. And if you need a junction, use Millennium Way or Edmund Halley Way.

Coming to an arena or indigo at The O2 event? Then it’s Car Park 1. Remember to pre-book your parking just in case they’re full on the day.

Not coming to an event? For everything else including Icon Outlet and Cineworld use car parks 2, 3 or 4 where hourly tariffs apply.

Drop-off and pick-up Our free drop-off and pick-up point is in Car Park 1, just off Millennium Way. It’s clearly signposted.

Blue badge parking spaces are available in all of The O2’s car parks. Just make sure the blue badge holder is in the car with you during your visit.

Where to eat and sleep?

Choose from a wide range of food and drink stalls. They’re open from arena door time until the end of the interval. During every single event. The O2 is also home to some of the best eating and drinking locations in London with amazing bars and restaurants to suit all tastes.

1. ASK Italian. Inspired by the Italian way of eating, ASK Italian celebrates meal times as an opportunity to connect with one another around the table. And there’s something for everyone, from kids to grown ups and everyone in between. They’ve even got special vegan and non-gluten menus to hand. Enjoy freshly prepared dishes including perfect-for-sharing antipasti boards, stone baked pizzas, fresh pasta, salads and risotto. Be sure to check out their Instagram-worthy desserts and relax with a coffee or a cocktail whilst you enjoy the easy going atmosphere and friendly service.
• Free sports predictions 24 hours a day.
2. All Bar One. All Bar One believes every cocktail, every glass of wine, and every meal is an opportunity to discover something new. They keep the wine cellar well stocked with classic grapes and a handful of less well travelled varieties you’re sure to love.
3. Busaba. Busaba is modern Bangkok eating in the heart of London. As in Thailand, their dishes are made to share, and include a flavoursome selection of freshly prepared salads, pad Thais, curries and more. With a large portion of their menu being plant-based, they claim to feed the soul, body and mind.
• Find out which bookmaker you can get a sign-up bonus from.
4. Cabana. Latin American inspired grill and home of the mighty flame grilled Spicy Malagueta Chicken. Enjoy honey glazed basted chicken skewers grilled over an open flame, and sizzling steaks straight from the Churrasco Grill alongside some classic Caipirinha’s in the heart London.

Make your visit to The O2 truly unforgettable with InterContinental London – The O2 Conveniently located next to the of the stylish hotel lobby, guests can easily walk directly into The O2 through the unique corridor giving them access to shopping at ICON Outlet at The O2, dining in the Entertainment District and unforgettable shows at The O2. As part of InterContinental Hotels worldwide, this modern and dynamic property, opened in 2015, fuses timeless luxury with contemporary comfort.

Facilities

The O2 arena offers a breath-taking, show-stopping and world-class large conference or event venue in London. With virtually unlimited configuration options and spaces for break-out sessions, networking events, drinks receptions and business meetings, their specialist team is there to take your large event to the next level.

An iconic and world-famous London landmark, The O2 arena provides an exhilarating setting for conferences and events from 1,500 to 15,000 people. Having hosted world-famous live and televised events including the BRIT Awards, it’s also the perfect large venue for an Awards Night or Gala Dinner, with options to seat 800 to 2,200 guests on the arena floor.

By hiring The O2 arena, you will also access unique and powerful branding and digital media opportunities for your conference or event. Whether you want to see your organisations name in lights, or give centre stage to event sponsors, their branding offering will give your conference or large event a world-class feel.

Home to some of the world’s most famous entertainment and sporting events, you, your colleagues and guests will be able to share centre stage with world-famous entertainers and sports stars, from Led Zeppelin to the Harlem Globetrotters. You can also access backstage and to 96 VIP suites and 14 en-suite dressing rooms.

Your delegates will see parts of The O2 reserved only for mega-stars. From wardrobes that lead into secret hangouts, to hidden doors in walls, these spaces will add fun, excitement and a touch of magic to your next London conference or event.

Thinking about drinks receptions, dinners, break-out sessions or networking events alongside your main conference or event? With options including the American Express Lounge, Chairman’s Lounge, Green Room and Sky Backstage, there are facilities to cater to any number of guests or purpose.

If you’re looking for a venue for a smaller corporate event space to hire, for 350 -1,800 people, then indigo at The O2 could be the perfect option.

Accessibility

The O2 is fully accessible. In 2013, The O2 was the first arena to receive Attitude is Everything’s Gold Standard, a Charter of Best Practice across the UK for Deaf and disabled people’s access to live music. The charter has been updated, now with 112 areas that need to be assessed to obtain a gold award and The O2 arena proudly retain its gold standard when they renewed in 2018.

Getting around

If you’ve got a ticket for accessible seating, you can use any entrance. People with mobility issues may find it easier to use Entrance B. The main concourses are level and step free. And there are accessible lifts spread over all levels.

Queuing

Talk to a member of staff at the arena entrance if you have a disability that means you can’t queue. They’ll sort out priority entry for you. As soon as the doors open. Usually, the time printed on your ticket is the time the doors open.

Wheelchair access

Wheelchair escorts are available on event days only. Just call once the event doors open (this is usually the time printed on your ticket) and they’ll meet you with a wheelchair to take you to your seat.

The viewing platforms are on Level 1 with free standing fold out seats available for friends, family and PAs, and non-wheelchair users. The bays are raised above the fixed seating areas. That means you can stay seated and still have a clear view of the action. Even if the audience is standing. Each bay has a steward who’s there to help if you need anything.

The accessible bays are all in easy reach of accessible toilet facilities including the changing places unit.

Accessible seating

Accessible seating is available on each level for anyone who can walk and leave a seat in case of emergency. Accessible seating includes seats on the aisle, seats with few or no steps nearby, seats that have nothing directly in front of them, and seats closest to the toilets. Please note that at some events people may stand/dance in their seats. If you have difficulty standing please mention this at the time of booking as the viewing platforms may be more suitable. If you have your own wheelchair, it will be left with the nearest information desk until the end of the event. Or until you want to leave.

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs can stay in wheelchair bays. Talk to the nearest information desk if you’re in the accessible seating area. They’ll look after your dog for the whole event. Or for any period during the event.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are unisex. And they’re available on all levels. They’re near the wheelchair bays.

There is also a Changing Places fully accessible toilet by Block 104 on Level 1. Contact your nearest steward for access. Or visit the Level 1 information desk. These toilets are larger than a standard wheelchair accessible toilet and include a height-adjustable changing bench, a hoist and room for up to two PAs.

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs)

Assistive Listening Devices are available for people with or without a hearing aid. The ALDs work with digital hearing aids and hearing aids that have T-position settings. Earphones are available if you don’t have a hearing aid.

Visit any information desk to get an ALD. You’ll need to leave a form of ID that you can pick up when you bring the ALD back.

Electrical equipment

A power supply is available on some wheelchair bays for anyone with medical needs. Let customers services know what you need before you buy your ticket.

Special effects

Some events involve pyrotechnics, flashing lights and other special effects. Contact customer services for details of any special effects expected at your event.

Architectural Aspects

The dome is one of the largest of its type in the world. Externally, it appears as a large white marquee with twelve 100-metre-high (330 ft) yellow support towers, one for each month of the year, or each hour of the clock face, representing the role played by Greenwich Mean Time. In plan view it is circular, 365 metres (1,200 ft) (one metre or 39 inches for each day in a standard year) in diameter. It has become one of the United Kingdom’s most recognisable landmarks, and can be easily identified on satellite images of London. Its exterior is reminiscent of the Dome of Discovery built for the Festival of Britain in 1951.

The architect was Richard Rogers and the contractor was a joint venture company, McAlpine/Laing Joint Venture (MLJV) formed between Sir Robert McAlpine and Laing Management. The building structure was engineered by Buro Happold, and the entire roof structure weighs less than the air contained within the building. Although referred to as a dome it is “not a dome in the structural sense. In this building, a dome-shaped cable network is supported on a ring of masts. It has been disparagingly referred to as the Millennium Tent.

The canopy is 52 metres (170 ft) high in the middle – one metre (3.3 ft) for each week of the year and is made of durable and weather-resistant PTFE-coated glass fibre fabric panels (original plans to use PVC-coated polyester fabric were dropped after protest led by Greenpeace), with each of the 72 segments containing two panels. Its symmetry is interrupted by a hole through which a ventilation shaft from the Blackwall Tunnel rises. Six segments were destroyed during Storm Eunice on 18 February 2022.

Built in 15 months, the dome structure was delivered under budget, at a cost of £43m.

History

Following the closure of the Millennium Experience at the end of 2000, the Millennium Dome was leased to Meridian Delta Ltd. in December 2001, for redevelopment as an entertainment complex. This included plans for an indoor arena. Construction of the arena started in 2003, and finished in 2007. In December 2004, after the interior of the dome had been largely cleared and before building work inside began, the dome was used as the main venue for the annual Crisis Open Christmas organised by the London-based homelessness charity Crisis.