Part of a vast entertainment complex on the Greenwich Peninsula in south-east London, the 20,000-seat O2 Arena hosts multi-faceted events ranging from live music to ice skating, basketball competitions, world-class exhibitions and major sporting events. It’s one of the world’s busiest music arenas, at times rivalling Madison Square Garden in New York City for its constant parade of famous performers and musical artists such as The Rolling Stones, Prince and Lady Gaga.
Gaining the attention of the world as home to the 2012 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Paralympics, O2 Arena also thrives on a smaller scale with its cosy, informal Indigo club, complete with three pubs and the VIP Purple Lounge. It’s the place to go for intimate comedy, political exchange and smaller music events, and has even hosted Classic FM shows and endearing television programs such as X Factor. Visitors can explore the enormous O2 complex for a thrilling interactive Star Wars exhibit, Bollywood screenings at Cineworld, and championship racing on a custom-built Nissan track and Gran Turismo 6 pods.
The North Greenwich underground station, about 20 minutes from Central London, services O2 Arena, with numerous buses using the station as well. Drivers use signposted exits from the M25, the A2 and A20 from the South-east, or can use the M11 from the North. The closest Eurostar stop to the arena is St. Pancras station near Kings Cross.
O2 Arena is part of the original Millennium Dome, built to commemorate the beginning of the third millennium in 2000. The arena occupies 40 percent of the total dome. Few visitors realise that they are standing on the site of the Prime Meridian as it passes through the west side of the dome.