London 2012: The Olympic torch route through Croydon and Surrey
THE Olympic torch will spend just one day in Surrey next year on its route across the country to London's Olympic Stadium.
The flame, which will travel the country via horseback, bicycle, tram and steam-train as well as by road and rail, will take in nine towns in Surrey on July 20.
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The Olympic torch
It will take in towns and villages from Dorking and Redhill in the east of the county to Shere, Guildford and Godalming in the south.
The flame will then travel through Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Wandsworth, Bromley and Lewisham on July 23 as it makes its way around the Greater London boroughs on the final days of the 70-date relay.
However, the torch will spend far longer in other areas on the country, including four days in Kent alone and visiting almost 40 towns, cities and villages there.
"I’m delighted that the Olympic torch relay will take the 2012 Games to almost every corner of the UK," said Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"Now everyone is invited to plan their welcome and find out where they can go to be part of this historic occasion."
The street-by-street detail of the route will be confirmed next year.
For an interactive map of where the torch will pass through, click here
The Olympic torch will be lit in Olympia in Greece in May, and flown to the UK.
The relay will begin in Land's End in Cornwall on May 19, and continue for an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK, carried by 8,000 torchbearers picked because of a 'personal achievement' or contribution to their community.
It will take in 1,018 towns, cities and villages, and organisers say it will be within an hour's journey of 95% of the UK population.
On the final day of the relay, July 27, the torch will travel down the River Thames to the Olympic Stadium, where it will be used to light the cauldron at the opening ceremony.
Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council cabinet member for the 2012 Games, said: "The fact the torch relay will visit so many Surrey towns and villages over three days next summer is a thrilling prospect."
Where you will be able to see the Olympic torch in Surrey and South London:
Friday July 20, 2012
- Godstone
- Bletchingley
- Redhill
- Reigate
- Dorking
- Westcott
- Shere
- Godalming
- Guildford
Monday July 23
- Lewisham
- Bromley
- Croydon
- Sutton
- Merton
- Wandsworth
- Kingston
5 Comments
by Ivor_Shed
Thursday, November 10 2011, 2:09PM
“Jubilee year - what an ideal opportunity for a party on the new Addo Village Green - perhaps the council could suspend the meter fees for the day?
as far as the torch route is concerned, why didn't they start in 2009 and run round every village in the UK?
Do they run all night or is there a special rack for standing the torch in (and does another man run behind carrying that?).”
by djerbel2
Tuesday, November 08 2011, 4:54PM
“i seem to remember riots in the suburbs of paris not so long ago so this sort of thing can happen in any country.as for the olympics im looking forward to it there will be loads of things going on around the games all year.my sons got tickets for the hockey and basketball events.and we have got the queens jubillee next year so street parties ect brilliant.”
by The3rd
Tuesday, November 08 2011, 2:09PM
“Perhaps the runner will be in an armoured Pope mobile?”
by Ivor_Shed
Tuesday, November 08 2011, 12:51PM
“I won't bother watching it pass - I'll wait for the runner to get mugged and see what the torch goes for on ebay.
Also, please explain how a flame is being flown to the UK? I can't even take a bottle of water on a plane unless I buy it airside.”
by bigdonkey
Tuesday, November 08 2011, 12:14PM
“can we really trust the people of croydon with a naked flame in the streets?
We don't want to start the olympics with another few days of looting and rioting”