The full opening of East Bank is within sight. The London College of Fashion was the first building to open. It overlooks the canal which winds through the Olympic Park and is home for budding new designers who’ll benefit from a whizzy new learning space. Next door is the new V&A East Museum which will open in 2025 and a new Storehouse nearby which will give visitors the chance to see a vast array of exhibits which have not had the space to be seen in the Kensington site.

It was very thrilling to see the models which give an impression of the line up of new buildings. Each of the cultural institutions are full of enthusiasm for cooperation with their neighbours. The London College of Fashion will be able to send students to look at the V&A’s archive of clothing, fabric and patterns. The new BBC Studios, due to open in 2025 is located right next door to the new Sadlers Wells East which opens next year. There are plans for musicians coming to the studio to participate in dance projects in the new space, for music being recorded to be piped into the Sadlers Wells’ foyer and for a tremendous cross-pollination of ideas and learnings.

Then we walked over the canal to the new UCL East building. This is the building with the global ideas, literally. The Gaia Globe by Luke Jerram hangs in the atrium. On each floor students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and, again, the chance to collaborate with different departments within their building. The new UCL building has welcomed its first batch of students and what a fortunate bunch they are. It’s very heartening to hear about the development of East Bank. It shows that the Olympic legacy is alive and kicking and showing just how exciting this area of London is going to become.

And, as a finale to the visit, I was able to go to the viewing platform of the ArcelorMittal Orbit. From that lofty vantage point I could survey not only the wonderful Olympic park but the views all across London on a bright sunny day. Can’t wait to go back to East Bank to see how it is progressing.