THE LINE
WEBSITE: WWW.THE-LINE.ORG
LOCATION: URBAN WALK BETWEEN QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK AND THE 02.
NEAREST AIRPORTS: LONDON CITY AIRPORT, NORTH GREENWICH TUBE STATION OR STRATFORD STATION
The Line is London’s first dedicated urban art trail, running between the O2 and the Olympic Park, following the waterways and tracing the Greenwich Meridian. Not only will you encounter a strong selection of contemporary sculptures along the route, which takes around three hours at a comfortable pace, but you will also discover some of the most beautiful and historically rich areas of London’s East End.
Left: Gary Hume, Liberty Grip, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Adam Kaleta. Right: Richard Wilson, A Slice of Reality. Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Matt Cuzner.
Starting, as I did, from the O2, the route is easy to follow thanks to clear signage and a map available on the website, which highlights both the artworks and key landmarks along the way. The sculptures are on loan and change from time to time, but when I completed the walk I saw works by Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Abigail Fallis, Alex Chinneck, Gary Hume, Eduardo Paolozzi, Sterling Ruby, Richard Wilson, and Anish Kapoor, to name just a few.
Left: Signage to be found on The Line to help show you the way. Right: Screenshot of The Line interactive map, available on the website.
The Line’s curator, Megan Piper, and her team are active in developing events and collaborations that extend the experience and encourage public engagement, all of which are detailed on the website. One such collaboration is with artists Lothar Götz and Troika. Troika’s Labyrinth of a Straight Line at Endeavour Square consists of a labyrinthine, twisting, turning and meandering path of tessellated natural stone, while Götz Porte de Couleur at Glasshouse Gardens was conceived by the artist as a ‘continuous line drawing in space’. Other events range from bird spotting and nest making workshops to Sketchcrawl: Imagine The Line, an artist led tour. It is worth checking the site in advance for the latest events and opportunities.
Left: Joanna Rajkowska, The Hatchling, Cody Dock. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis. Right: Alex Chinneck, A Bullet from a Shooting Star, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis.
As you make your way along the river, you are rewarded with striking views of industrial London and ongoing regeneration projects. Highlights include the Abbey Mills Pumping Station, often nicknamed the Cathedral of Sewage, the Olympic Park and Aquatics Centre, and the beautiful Grade I listed Three Mills. As the trail is entirely outdoors, it can be enjoyed on foot or by bicycle and is well suited to families, dogs included.
Left: Three Mills. Right: View of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The route requires crossing the River Thames, where you can choose to take the Underground or opt for the Emirates Air Line and enjoy expansive views of the city as you pass over the water. The map also suggests several places to stop for lunch or a coffee and cake, including the House Mill Café and The Print House Bar and Kitchen, known for its slow cooked food.
Left: Laura Ford, Bird Boy, Royal Victoria Dock. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis. Right: View from the Emirates Air Line.
What I particularly like about The Line is that its original seed funding came from a crowdfunding campaign, giving the project a genuine sense of community ownership. At the same time, it is run by experienced art professionals, resulting in thoughtful curatorial choices and consistently high quality. A winning combination.
Left: Antony Gormley, Quantum Cloud, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Emily Lovell. Right: Thomson and Craighead, Here, Greenwich Peninsula. Photo: Vassilis Skopelitis.