Let’s talk about the real test: leaving after a gig. The station turns into a human sardine can from about 10:30 PM onward. If you’re not feeling like a sardine, do what I do: go for a second overpriced beer at the fancy bar near the river. It buys you an extra 20 minutes, and you get to watch the dome light up like a giant, drunken disco ball.
Alternatively, you can queue for the cable car that runs across the Thames. It’s a tourist trap, but it’s also a brilliantly stupid way to say “I’m too fancy for the tube.” You’ll float over the water, looking back at the O2, which now looks exactly like a glowing, silver Jelly Baby with its face squished against a window.
Final Words of Wisdom
Whatever you do at the O2, remember this: the journey from the North Greenwich station to the dome is the easiest part of your night. The hard part is not buying a ridiculously overpriced t-shirt on your way out. And for heaven’s sake, don’t trust the Wi-Fi inside. It’s as weak as your resolve to just “pop in for one drink.” Enjoy the chaos, and always check your pockets for that receipt from the £14 cocktail.
