11/06/2026
Delighted that we could attend the Olympia UK launch event this week and soak up the wonder of this £1.3Bn regeneration. Having covered life for 15 years, you think you've seen it all - very few things take your breath away, and yet here we are. The historical Victorian exhibition hall is morphing into a 365-day destination for culture, entertainment, hospitality and business thanks to the vision of Thomas & Heatherwick Studio.
It comes with a new 3,800-capacity live music venue, a 1,575-seat theatre which is London’s largest new purpose-built theatre in 50 years, two hotels by Hyatt and citizenM hotels, 30+ food and drink concepts, public spaces, offices and new cultural venues. The project is expected to support around 7,000 jobs, attract up to 10 million visitors annually and contribute more than £600 million to the UK economy each year.
Rather than competing with the Grade II-listed Victorian halls, the new additions sit quite literally on the shoulders of the Victorians - with incredible roof spaces, the scale of which is hard to comprehend without visiting yourself- all the while preserving the character that made iconic in the first place.
Olympia feels refreshingly optimistic: a major vote of confidence in the capital’s future as a global destination for culture, creativity and commerce. Congrats to everyone involved. 👏
