Video:Tour of Stratford, London

Transcript:Tour of Stratford, London

Hi, I am Simon Rodway. I am a London Blue Badge guide and I am here for About.com to tell you a little bit about Stratford in East London.

Stratford, a little piece of real London had suddenly found itself host to the mighty 2012 Olympics. The reason the games came here is because for hundreds of years there has been industry in Stratford, and particularly railway industries.

How to Get to Stratford, London

So, Stratford, and East London, are real gems to come and find, are easily connected -- it is the most well connected part in London. Stratford regional station has got the Central Line -- the red line, it has got the Jubilee Line here, it has got the DLR -- the Docklands Light Railway, and you can get the overground here. During the Olympic games a highspeed train will connect King's Cross and St. Pancras with Stratford, and that will be called the Javelin.

Theatre Royal Stratford Is a Must-See

Stratford is probably Roman in origin and it has got some real gems. We are going to go and have a look at this Theatre Royal Stratford, from which the 1950s onwards, under Joan Littlewood, lots of experimental theatre shows start here in Stratford East and go on into the West End. And look out for Startford Circus, the cultural centre here in Stratford. And just along the high street you will find Discover, it's a Storytelling Centre.

Other Sights to See in Stratford, London

We have here lots of little interesting pubs and interesting eateries. You can have a pint of English ale in the King Edward VII or maybe a nice glass of Californian ‘blush’ in the Railway Tavern. Stratford is also home to the biggest shopping mall in Europe, Westfield Stratford City -- really interesting part of London. It's interesting not just for the fact that it has got an Olympic path stuck in the middle of it.

So I am Simon Rodway, a Blue Badge tourist guide for London for About.com. Thanks for watching!