In summary
Helix is a 178m long and 76m high slide where you'll enter dark and light spots, twist round 12 loops, and hit speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
When did we visit?
Helix is located on the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture, which was famously designed by Sir Anish Kapoor and Cecil Salmond for the London 2012 Olympics. The giant red sculpture is made of 35,000 bolts and the equivalent of 265 double-decker buses worth of steel, 60 per cent of which is recycled. It looks like a twisted tower of rollercoaster tracks, with a round viewing tower at the top. But it's been closed for about a year for essential maintenance. And now, Helix and ArcelorMittal Orbit are operated by Zip World - it's the perfect match, as adventure giant Zip World prides itself on offering unique experiences for thrill seekers.
I visited with my husband and two young sons, Odhran, aged 9, and Reuben, who was sadly too little to participate, on a Saturday morning over Valentine's weekend. It marked the re-opening of ArcelorMittal Orbit and Helix, so it was really busy and there seemed to be a lot of walk-ins. The attraction is located right next the London Stadium (ex Olympic Stadium), which is home to West Ham United. There was a match on that day, and football fans were keen to make the most of their visit and squeeze in a high-adrenaline experience on Helix before heading to the match. There also seemed to be a lot of people who'd been waiting for Helix to re-open and were keen to grab the chance whizz down this unique attraction.
The website states to arrive 30 minutes prior to your adventure start time. We had a booked time slot and rushed to get there on time, but it seemed pretty relaxed with timings when we arrived.
Where is it located?
As mentioned, Helix is located on the iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London. The full address is Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 5 Thornton Street, London, E20 2AD. The attraction is right next to Westfield shopping centre, which has plenty of dining options, and shops to visit (Odhran and Reuben loved visiting the Lego Store after their Helix adventure). There are also other attractions such as All Star Lanes bowling, Vue cinema, and Gravity, in the shopping centre. We popped into Gravity for a few fun arcade games. There are also some nice little playgrounds in Stratford (including Tumbling Bay Playground). So, you can make a visit to Helix and ArcelorMittal Orbit a full family day out.
What does the experience involve?
After checking in, we were given a token to place our belongings securely in a locker. Then we took the lift up to the viewing platform, which takes seconds. But if you're feeling energetic, you could take the stairs - it's only 455 steps! We did take the steps on the way down, as Odhran insisted.
The viewing platform is above the platform for Helix. We've been in Sky Garden (at the top of the Walkie Talkie skyscraper on Fenchurch Street) but that's an area heavily concentrated with other tall buildings. So, what we enjoyed about our view from ArcelorMittal Orbit was the expanse of land in front of us. It offers a 360° view of London for miles. Take in the waterways, green spaces, and stadiums built around the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, including Lee Valley VeloPark and London Aquatics Centre. You can also see the black square design of the nearby ABBA Voyage venue. Further into the distance, you can spot St. Paul’s Cathedral, Alexandra Palace, and the O2, alongside other London landmarks, such at the Shard, the Gherkin and BT Tower.
After taking in the view, we headed down a level to Helix. There was a big queue when we visited, but this was likely due to it being the re-opening weekend. We pulled on a skull cat and arm pads and waited our turn. Then, one by one, we hopped into a mat, and off we went! Odhran let out a shriek. But silence is my reaction to fear! I whizzed round the loops at lightening speed, and I particularly enjoyed the thrill of the darkened parts of the slide. It was a fun and exhilarating experience.
You're allowed to take your phone anywhere on site. But on the slide, it must be securely in a pocket. Zip World will soon have a souvenir video system in place.
What should you wear?
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and ensure long hair is tied back.
What age is it most suitable for?
There are some restrictions, and participants must be a minimum height of 1.3m, which meant my daredevil younger son was absolutely gutted to be too small to ride. A quick Google search tells me the average height of a nine year old is 1.3m so that's probably around good gauge of age suitability. There is no maximum height limit. But participants must be under 130kg to take part. Height (if you look too little) and weight (regardless) will be checked on arrival.
What about the facilities?
We had a trek from south London, and ended up rushing and racing, so it was a relief to discover that there were toilets in ArcelorMittal Orbit. There are lockers on ground level to place your bags and coats in. The viewing platform is enclosed, though there is an outdoor area. But you'll be fine without your coat. There's also a gift shop at the check in desks, selling loads of good quality Zip World merch. We really liked the cosy hoodies.
How long will you spend there?
This depends on how long you want to spend enjoying the view. Odhran and Reuben weren't too interested in spotting the landmarks. But they did enjoy the huge concave mirrors, which played with perspective and turned the horizon on its head, so it looked like the distant buildings were upside down above your head. Helix is a quick thrill, and you'll whizz down it in under 40 seconds, but on our visit, staff were allowing visitors to go on a second time.
How much does it cost?
If you just want to experience the views from ArcelorMittal Orbit, you can purchase a ticket from £7pp. But to go on Helix, prices cost from £14pp, but this includes access to the viewing platform. Tickets for a group of four costs from £49 (check the online calendar for best price dates). There's also a £5 booking fee per order. If you're travelling to the area specifically to enjoy this experience then I'd recommend booking in advance. But they do take walk-ins. So, if you're in the area and decide to add a bit of excitement to your day, drop in, and the friendly staff will get you booked on.
Take a Break's verdict
Helix is a unique London experience and a great one to tick off the bucket list. It had the perfect thrill factor for us, without being too intense. It's something fun and a bit different to do on a day out. But it is quite a brief experience. So, if you're travelling to the area specifically for this adventure, I'd suggest checking out all that Stratford has to offer so you can make the most of your visit. Overall, we'd rate Helix a 4.5 out of 5.