Wheeeee! We were one of the first on Carsten Höller's new slide – and we're still trembling
A nine-year-old and an adult review the thrilling, terrifying Carsten Holler slide: but who was braver?
Photo by Culture Whisper: Carsten Holler Slide Review
The closer you get, the louder they are. Warped whoops and screams, ringing out from Anish Kapoor's momentous Olympic sculpture. The reason for this is Carsten Höller, who has wrapped one of his famous slides around Kapoor's red and tangled helter-skelter. We were one of the first to have a go. And we can't recommend it enough.
This isn't your average playground affair: we're talking 178 metres long 76 metres high. Twists, turns, vertical drops, helmets. You're given a sack to lie in, told to tuck your elbows in and then whooosh, down you go, plunged in and out darkness, speeding along, no idea which way is up or down.
Children aged eight and up are allowed on (and generally much braver than their adult counterparts). We took a junior correspondent along. Here's what Arthur Cory-Wright, age nine, had to say:
'Today I went to The Slide with my older sister. It certainly lived up to my expectations. Yes – it is a bit scary. But you feel really safe the whole time, because the lovely helpers tell you exactly what to do. It was a bit stormy, but luckily they reassured us that there was no way the lightening could get us.
'I think I was one of the first kids on the slide and the person who told me how to go down said I was one of the bravest because I didn’t scream. She said one grown-up man even cried!
'My only negative point was that they called it "The Slide", where they could have called it something more creative. I suggest renaming it "Dark Light Plummet Down".
'I give this ride five-and-three-quarter stars because five is not enough.'
Arthur enjoys a well-deserved orange juice.
Practicalities:
- The slide is a 15-minute walk from Stratford Tube, through the mall. It's well-signposted from the station
- You book the ride in 15-minute slots, so there are no two-hour theme park-style waits
- Kids are allowed, but must be at least 1.3m in height and at least eight years old
This isn't your average playground affair: we're talking 178 metres long 76 metres high. Twists, turns, vertical drops, helmets. You're given a sack to lie in, told to tuck your elbows in and then whooosh, down you go, plunged in and out darkness, speeding along, no idea which way is up or down.
Children aged eight and up are allowed on (and generally much braver than their adult counterparts). We took a junior correspondent along. Here's what Arthur Cory-Wright, age nine, had to say:
'Today I went to The Slide with my older sister. It certainly lived up to my expectations. Yes – it is a bit scary. But you feel really safe the whole time, because the lovely helpers tell you exactly what to do. It was a bit stormy, but luckily they reassured us that there was no way the lightening could get us.
'I think I was one of the first kids on the slide and the person who told me how to go down said I was one of the bravest because I didn’t scream. She said one grown-up man even cried!
'My only negative point was that they called it "The Slide", where they could have called it something more creative. I suggest renaming it "Dark Light Plummet Down".
'I give this ride five-and-three-quarter stars because five is not enough.'
Arthur enjoys a well-deserved orange juice.
Practicalities:
- The slide is a 15-minute walk from Stratford Tube, through the mall. It's well-signposted from the station
- You book the ride in 15-minute slots, so there are no two-hour theme park-style waits
- Kids are allowed, but must be at least 1.3m in height and at least eight years old
TRY CULTURE WHISPER
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| What | Wheeeee! We were one of the first on Carsten Höller's new slide – and we're still trembling |
| Where | Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E20 2ST | MAP |
| Nearest tube | Stratford (underground) |
| When |
24 Jun 16 – 31 Oct 17, 10am - 6pm, last entry 5.30pm |
| Price | £Advance Booking Price: Adult (17+ years), £10 Child (3-16 years), £5 Senior/Student £7 Family £26, Adult (17+ years) £12 Child (3-16 years) £7 Family Ticket £32 Senior/Student* £10 (student/60+/unwaged) |
| Website | Book your tickets here |