10 fun Olympic sports you can do in the Lee Valley Park

From horse riding to road cycling, here's Annie Ross' edit of the best actitivies on offer in this 26 mile long park
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Annie Ross1 March 2016

Before the Rio Olympics hype reaches fever pitch, have you tried out the facilities available to you in the Lee Valley? The 26 mile long park includes the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and is jam-packed with activities. Here are the top 10 activities for you to get stuck into:

1. Velodrome track cycling

Adrenaline fuelled, you’ll find yourself flying around the 42 degree angled track within an hour of getting on the bike. In the taster sessions, instructors coach you to build confidence and speed to move a higher and higher up the wooden velodrome. It costs £35 for a 1hour 20 minute taster session, which includes kit. Improver sessions also available. There are regular competitions held there if you’d prefer to sit back and watch the pros.

2. BMX (bicycle motocross)

A suitably watered down version of the undulating track used in the Olympics sits alongside the velodrome. Step by step you are taught the basics, building confidence on the mini bike with no brakes, taking on the drops and big corners, before braving the whole track. It's £15 for a 1 hour taster session, which includes kit. Pay-and-ride sessions are also available.

3. Road cycling

The one-mile floodlit circuit is a great place to go for a spin. It's a traffic-free, smooth-tarmaced course complete with bends, straights, dips and hills to build your fitness and confidence. You can book onto a skills session or pay and ride – there are lots of races held on the track too if you want a bit of competition. Pay-and-ride costs £5.

4. VeloStudio

The VeloPark also has a studio for indoor static bike cycling. There's a whole host of training sessions available including race simulations, endurance tests, speed sessions, virtual coached classes and movie night cycles. From £4 -£12, with membership options available from £30.

5. Horseriding

If you’re keen on getting into a different type of saddle, head to the Lee Valley Riding Centre, which a 15 minute drive from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Skills based sessions will get you comfortable with the horses and you’ll quickly see an improvement. £53 for 45 minute private lesson or £29.50 for a 1 hour group lesson.

6. White water rafting

No need to fly to the Zambezi, gather friends and brave the rapids together right here in London. It's not just white water rafting - canoeing and kayaking are also available. The sessions are 3 to 4 hours and cost £50 per person - or £35 with March Mayhem discount.

7. Sailing

The Lee Valley Park has access to 180 acres of sailing wate so, is a great place to start working on your skippering skills. Set sail with one of the three sailing clubs in the area. It's £130 for a 2 day Level 1 course at King George Sailing Club.

8. Athletics

The largest indoor and outdoor athletics centre in the south of England is on Londoners' doorsteps. Rather than the Olympic Stadium, which is now a multi-use venue, the Lee Valley Athletics Centre (north of the Olympic Park) is where to head for classes. The centre hosts hurdle and parkour sessions. They also put on great days for kids during the holidays so they can try out long jump, high jump, sprints and pole vault. Prices vary.

9. Tennis

The London 2012 venue has six outdoor courts and four indoor courts. Lessons for kids and adults of all levels as well as court hire is available. The Hockey and Tennis Centre, the only purpose built London 2012 paralympic venue, runs disability sessions for special needs schools, community groups, disabled athletes and other players providing coaching, matches and competition.

10. Swimming

Designed like the inside of a whale, the London Aquatics Centre is impressive. A 50m heated indoor public pool, it is run by better.org.uk. Alongside the lap pool, the diving pool hosts lessons, including the Tom Daley Diving Academy. Pay as you go £5.20 at peak times, £4.95 off-peak. Membership options available. Diving lesson prices vary.

Take your pick and head over east. Information is on visitleevalley.org.uk

Annie Ross is the founder of eXerK.com, completing 52 sporting challenges in 52 weeks during 2015. Follow her on Twitter@eXerKyourself

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