Music
Big Day Out
A Big Day Out at ABBA Voyage
Make the most out of your day seeing ABBA Voyage in London, including restaurants, shopping and things to do near the arena
As ABBA Voyage enters its fourth year at the purpose-built ABBA Arena, the hype shows no signs of slowing down. Nor should it – ABBA Voyage does the impossible, transporting audiences back through the years to experience a musical moment that should be, by general logic, long over. In front of our eyes, the four members who lend their initials to the band’s name are young again, cycling through their greatest hits in a show that no attendee is ever likely to forgot.
The entertainment takes care of itself, but if you’re wondering what to do before or after you’re dazzled by ABBA, you’re in luck. We’ve put together a guide letting you know where to shop, eat and drink around the ABBA Arena – and giving some suggestions for extending your celebrations. Here’s how to plan a big day out at ABBA Voyage.
Things to do near ABBA Voyage
Restaurants near ABBA Voyage
Shopping near ABBA Voyage
Bars and pubs near ABBA Voyage
Tube stations and bus stops near ABBA Voyage
On-theme activities for ABBA Voyage
Things to do near ABBA Voyage
Right next door to the ABBA Arena is Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, one of London’s most exciting areas. There’s tons to see and do around here, and it’s worth checking if there are any art installations, live performances, food festivals or other events that coincide with your visit. If the weather is nice enough to be outside, a stroll along the banks of the River Lea or a visit to the London Blossom Garden is always a great way to pass the time. You might also want to check out the Art in the Park trail, spread across the acres of parkland.
Within the park grounds is the ArcelorMittal Orbit 360, the dizzying sculpture that houses one of London’s best viewing platforms. 114.5 metres tall, with floor to ceiling windows for a fantastic view of the skyline, the ArcelorMittal Orbit is well worth a visit. Those feeling adventurous may want to venture onto the outdoor observation walkway, suspended 80 metres above the ground – the truly courageous can take on Helix, the 178 metre length tube slide that loops its way around the ArcelorMittal Orbit 12 times and reaches top speeds of 15mph.
For a piece of Olympic history, you might want to check out London Stadium, just ten minutes from the ABBA Arena. The central home of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games offers regular tours where you’ll see behind the scenes and learn more about how the 2012 Games came together. A little further out of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, you can get involved in the action yourself at the Lee Valley Velopark. Here you can practice your cycling by booking a bike and a place in one of their introduction to track cycling classes, or check out their Olympic BMX course with over 30 bumps, jumps and beams. There’s also 8km of mountain bike trails to explore.
If all of that’s just a little too much action for you, the V&A East Storehouse just 25 minutes from the arena might be more your speed. Home to a huge vault of treasures from the V&A collection, the Storehouse offers unprecedented access to the museum’s archives, and is part of the soon-to-open V&A East Museum, which will welcome the public from spring 2026.
Restaurants near ABBA Voyage
The most convenient place to eat before the show is of course the ABBA Arena itself, which offers an extensive menu of street food all served on site. If you’re willing to venture a little further afield, there are also lots of great options in the surrounding area and the nearby neighbourhood of Stratford.
ABBA Voyage has partnered with some of Stratford’s best restaurants to select three-course set menus for attendees at great prices. You can enjoy three courses along with a complimentary drink at Gordon Ramsey’s Bread Street Kitchen, serving comforting favourites to the highest standard. Weather dependent, you can enjoy your food out on the sunny roof terrace or in the restaurant’s Winter Garden. FIGO Stratford, serving authentic Italian food with a modern twist, also offers ABBA Voyage guests a three course set menu with a free drink, as does HERA, serving sophisticated Greek cuisine in a light, upscale space. All three are within twenty to twenty-five minutes’ walk from the arena.
For something different, Ukrainian restaurant XIX Nineteen serves an extensive menu with both British favourites and authentic Ukrainian dishes, including soups, stroganoff and dumplings. You’ll find just twenty minutes’ walk away. Twenty-three minutes away is Elondi, offering elevated European dining and delicious cocktails in a sleek, modern setting.
A little closer to the arena is The Print House, a modern European restaurant eight minutes from the arena serving steaks, burgers and stone-baked pizzas. Its large outdoor terrace is also a great place to enjoy a cocktail in the warmer months. If it’s a quick, early bite you’re after, The View Tube is a great place to check out. Just ten minutes from the ABBA arena, this local spot offers a casual menu of sandwiches, bagels, burritos and tacos – and cocktails, of course.
Shopping near ABBA Voyage
There’s hardly a better place to shop than Westfield Stratford City, just a twenty-minute walk from the ABBA Arena. Westfield offers everything from high street favourites to luxury brands, with tons of great food and drink spots as well. Whatever you’re after, chances are you’ll find it.
If you like to shop local, Stratford Shopping Centre is a 60-store shopping centre that houses high street and independent brands, also twenty minutes from the arena. It’s also home to Market Village, a traditional East End market full of small local businesses.
Bars near ABBA Voyage
Of course, you can never go wrong grabbing your pre-show drink at the ABBA Arena, with plenty of pints, cocktails and non-alcoholic options on offer. For the best ABBA Voyage drinks experience, add Oceanbird Lounge to your booking to enjoy unlimited drinks – including prosecco, wine, beer, draft cocktails and soft drinks – in a premium space, available both before and after the show.
If you do head over to Westfield, The Cow is a great spot for a drink. This elegant pub has a great cocktail menu and takes pride in being a haven in the bustle of Westfield. OutPost, twenty minutes from the theatre, has an extensive drinks menu with plenty of great deals on cocktails, and its huge Kentia palms and smart furnishings make it the perfect place to begin the celebrations.
Friendly local pub The Bow Bells is hard to miss with its bright orange exterior. You’ll find great cask ales here, along with Mexican street food, pool, a jukebox and karaoke. For those who really love their beer, Howling Hops Brewery and Tank Bar is a must-visit. In this industrial space you’ll find ten freshly-brewed beers poured straight from ten huge silver tanks, all situated behind a ten-metre long bar.
Seventeen minutes away, Two More Years overlooks the River Lea, a community-minded bar with a sustainable ethos pouring delicious drinks. Or, for those looking for a slightly calmer start or end to their night, twenty-three minutes from the arena is Escape Bar Stratford, a cosy hangout for those who love board and bar games with their drinks. They regularly host quizzes, D&D nights and cabaret shows.
Tube stations and bus stops near ABBA Voyage
The closest tube station to the ABBA Arena is Pudding Mill Lane Station, which is served by the DLR and is just a two-minute walk from the arena. The closest station for those travelling via National Rail is Stratford Station, a 25-minute walk from the arena. The theatre is also well connected via bus, with multiple bus routes stopping off nearby. Plan your journey with TFL travel for the best experience.
On-theme activities for ABBA Voyage
The first ABBA-themed activity that probably comes to mind – other than ABBA Voyage – is MAMMA MIA! The feel-good musical is now the fifth-longest running show in the West End and, just like ABBA Voyage, it’s packed with ABBA’s most infectious hits. Unlike ABBA Voyage, it’s set in Greece. Go with it.
If you want to be literally surrounded by ABBA’s music, we suggest Mamma Mia: The Party, the immersive experience at the O2 that lets you travel to the island of Skopelos. You’ll dine at Nikos’ Taverna and enjoy a four-course meal, an immersive show and an invitation to the post-show disco.
Tonight Josephine in Shoreditch offers a Mamma Mia Bottomless Brunch on multiple Saturdays throughout the year – make sure to check their schedule to avoid disappointment, but with lots of similar ABBA-themed brunches popping up around London, you’re bound to find one. For those who don’t – or can’t yet – drink, the Here We Go Again Afternoon Tea Bus Tour by Golden Tours is a 90-minute tour of London’s landmarks comes with sweet and savoury treats and an ABBA-themed singalong, making it the perfect way to warm up your voice.
If Swedish culture sounds a little more relevant than Grecian to you (and fair enough) then ScandiKitchen should be on your list. They’ve got two shop and café locations in Fitzrovia and Victoria, serving breakfast and lunch and selling a range of Swedish snacks and sweets in their store. Speaking of Swedish culture – we had to do it – IKEA now have a store on Oxford Street, and whilst it isn’t quite huge enough to get lost in, it still serves meatballs. Which is why we all go to IKEA anyway, right?
