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The everything you need to know about going to ABBA voyage thread

248 replies

Cod · 05/06/2022 08:44

Getting there
it is really well located for public transport.

Pudding Mill station is directly outside, but we walked from Stratford which is better connected for us from Waterloo.

It’s only a 20 minute walk along pathways links to the Olympic site I’ll be absolutely fine unless it’s pouring down with rain

Drinking and Eating before
if you want a proper meal pasta go to one of the mini chain restaurants at Westfield and then walk from there.

There is very little outside although there is some street food inside, but I didn’t see that.

Outside there is a pop-up box park type thing with called snoozebox which has got loads of atmosphere and some really tasty Indian street food. Drinks in there also a lot cheaper than inside the little mini foyer outside the Area where wine us £25 and beers £6. They will also give you tap water. The arena sells refillable Abba merch water bottles pictured.

the arena
outside in the foyer everybody is very up for it! You’ll be overcome by the joy of the whole experience. The arena is pop-up and the foyer shows, in the winter it might get quite windy but in the summer it was lovely. Hang around there to soak up the atmosphere. The staff are lovely and the cloakroom is free, but watch out for long queues afterwards to get that so take as little as you can. If you have got dancefloor seat you need to travel pretty light. Security is fast.

seating
unless you have an infirmity GET DANCEFLOOR TICKETS. There’s loads of room and great aircon. The chair people only stood up for the odd song. When we arrived in there about 20 minutes before the show lots of people are sitting on the floor in the dance floor seating finishing drinks and stuff but they soon got up as the vibe increased.

the show
They are rightly strict about phone use, and I saw very little of it. The show will freak you out because it’s so brilliant and even after which are not quite sure what you saw

It’s flawless technically and there is a live band . The lighting is alone is worth a ticket price.
it lasts 90 minutes. There are two sequences where is animations rather than abbatars and in theory you can get drinks then it will be hard to get back if you’re on the Dancefloor seating

afterwards
long queues for the Loos outside but go around the corner to the loos away from the cloakroom. Cloakroom queues were long but moved fast. Merch is ££ but available. then if you’re in a party mood you must go to the Snoozebox. This made our day. Really like being at the best wedding party ever. The staff there said it’s like it EVERY day. Dancing. Singing and laughs.

i think that’s it.

The everything you need to know about going to ABBA voyage thread
The everything you need to know about going to ABBA voyage thread
OP posts:
BlondieLady · 11/02/2023 17:34

Going to get the tube to Stratford and have lunch at Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre. Is it easy to find your way walking from Westfield ?

Cod · 11/02/2023 19:49

BlondieLady · 11/02/2023 17:34

Going to get the tube to Stratford and have lunch at Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre. Is it easy to find your way walking from Westfield ?

I seem to remember that it was, someone further down the thread said it wasn’t. You go past that weird Olympic helter-skelter thing and then just carry on. There were a few bits of roadworks, but it seemed to be quite obvious.

VanCleefArpels · 11/02/2023 20:12

BlondieLady · 11/02/2023 17:34

Going to get the tube to Stratford and have lunch at Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre. Is it easy to find your way walking from Westfield ?

We managed to get lost / distracted by roadworks and oaths in the park that were blocked off but that was last summer so May be better now! Took about 20mins by scenic route

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Rainbowshit · 11/02/2023 20:18

BlondieLady · 11/02/2023 17:34

Going to get the tube to Stratford and have lunch at Westfield Stratford Shopping Centre. Is it easy to find your way walking from Westfield ?

We found it ok but it wasn't particularly obvious without using google maps. I was expecting it to be signposted or at least be a stream of people heading that way we could follow.

MarieInternette · 11/02/2023 20:50

The dance floor wasn’t crowded when we were there (beginning of Dec). It was pleasantly full but not crammed. I thought, while there were some young uns there, it was mostly an older more middle class, sensible crowd. No pushing or shoving. Everyone respectful of each other’s space.
Id def suggest booking the dance floor. The seating areas were more spectating than dancing & it didn’t look like there was much atmosphere in the seats.

Cod · 14/02/2023 20:09

Rainbowshit · 11/02/2023 20:18

We found it ok but it wasn't particularly obvious without using google maps. I was expecting it to be signposted or at least be a stream of people heading that way we could follow.

Oh I’m sorry if I’ve misled. I had my son leading the way ! Was def a trail of folks back in June.

Westfacing · 16/02/2023 12:59

I'm going next month and have found this thread very helpful!

QueenOfHiraeth · 27/02/2023 19:16

We went a couple of weeks ago and the dance floor looked very full. There didn't look to be much space to move about at all.

We were in the seats but people got up and danced once the best songs started so I felt we had the best of both worlds and we probably had a better view of the lights which came down from the roof and which ran right around the sides.

Travelled there by train then DLR which stopped right outside the arena

Westfacing · 13/03/2023 23:01

We went this evening - what a fabulous production.

Loved it!

Therapeutic70 · 18/03/2023 14:43

Hello,
I’m going with a group of friends on Friday. Where can we drink/eat beforehand? Is it best to go to Snoozebox? Also, can we carry on dancing afterwards?

Cod · 18/03/2023 15:06

Hi, I feel my information is probably a bit old hat now.

We were meeting relatives so we ate at Westfield, maybe at a wahaca ? And then we walked over.

The food at snooze box was okay when we were there but it’s quite basic, it’s not really a meal. I think we had chips afterwards as we worked up an appetite. 🎉

OP posts:
Blackonion · 19/03/2023 11:25

I went a couple of weeks ago - and stayed at the Stratford which was a lovely hotel (although chaotic admin, and some noises - from the bar- rooms). It’s got a lovely restaurant downstairs in the foyer and is quite a stylish place to have a drink before hand, and after. It’s about 25 mins walk to ABBA from there, but we got an Uber which was 10 minutes. Snoozebox looked like fun but it was very crowded- and we were tempted for a drink after but the queue to the bar was many people deep. I’d say it’s pretty basic for food - although I haven’t tried it. Before ABBA we ate at Busaba which was ok, there’s also The Real Greek - all in the Westfield area. As far as I could see there’s nothing immediately near the arena. Hausen (opposite the Aquatics Centre) was interesting for breakfast but service was terrible.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 25/03/2023 21:18

A Shameless follow for this brilliant info thread 😁

Liltzero · 25/03/2023 22:06

I so want to go so marking for future reference.

superplumb · 26/03/2023 10:10

We're going 1st July cannot wait. I'm struggling with costumes though. Where did people get their fancy dress?

fadingfast · 26/03/2023 15:01

A bit late to the party here but having found this thread very useful, I thought I’d add to it with our experience. We went yesterday (Saturday) to the 3pm show. It was amazing. The lights, sound, special effects. All just stunning.

Everything at the venue was very well organised and staff cheery. We arrived a bit later than planned so no time for the Snoozebox bar (which is literally right outside, you can’t miss it). It looked very busy. We had drinks at the venue itself, which had a good vibe and plenty of space. We used the cloakroom, which was quick and efficient (even at the end of the show).

We had dance floor tickets and headed for the middle, towards the back. It was a great view but got very, very cramped and busy. Quite a few groups of very pissed up women, including one behind us who kept barging into us and screeching. I don’t have much tolerance for that at my age Grin. It just felt to me that there were too many people packed into the space.

Unlike the OP I also found it stiflingly hot before and during the show, the air conditioning was barely noticeable. Half way through I moved further to the side and nearer to the exit, which was much cooler and there was more space. But the view was not as good - the avatars were a little distorted.

I think I’d probably opt for the dance floor again but maybe not stand in the squashiest section (and I’d dress a lot cooler!).

Enjoy! An experience not to be missed.

Cod · 26/03/2023 15:39

Oh I’m sorry you were hot. I remember reading that they can’t have air-conditioning too powerful because it would distort what you see. But yes with screechy women very annoying.

OP posts:
IncessantNameChanger · 26/03/2023 15:48

Following. Went between Christmas and New year but missed most of it so I might go back

fadingfast · 26/03/2023 15:58

@Cod I wondered if they might be trying to save energy costs? To be fair I am not very tolerant of the heat at the best of times thanks to the bastard menopause.

Cod · 26/03/2023 17:52

Lol. I want to go again now. No one had really heard of it when I went

OP posts:
Hollymay3113 · 19/04/2023 16:46

This thread is great, we are going tomorrow! We are only about 5ft but have dance floor tickets.. do we need to try and get through to the front or is it see above from anywhere? Thanks!

Cod · 19/04/2023 16:55

Visibility will be fine tbh. I wouldn’t worry

OP posts:
crikeybiller · 02/05/2023 07:50

This thread is fab, thank you!
I'm going Saturday and it's the age old question....what should I wear ??
What was everyone wearing please ?..
Heels or trainers ? How dressy is it ?
What should I wear ?....

Cod · 02/05/2023 07:57

Never wear heels in London.
Last year some were dressed up but was very start of the run. Wish we had a bit.

it’s really casual.

OP posts:
crikeybiller · 02/05/2023 08:39

I have absolutely no idea what to wear then??
Is it jeans ? A dress ?
Please help everyone

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