The O2

The Dome with its white roof and yellow spikes pointing skyward was designed by Lord Foster to celebrate the Millennium. It now comprises a 23,000 seat arena for music and sport. The Dome also includes many restaurants, bars, exhibition areas, cinemas, interactive experiences, and other leisure facilities, including a 2,000 seat nightclub. Architects HOK developed the Dome for the Anschutz Entertainment Group.The O2 Dome has had something of a controversial history. Originally commissioned by the Conservative Government as a celebration of the Millennium, it became a project for New Labour when they were elected to government in 1997. The Labour Prime Minister, Tony Blair, declared in 1998: ‘This will be the most famous new building in the world.’ He invited The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to see in the new Millennium on New Year’s Eve 1999/2000. The Dome appears in the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough (1999), when Bond ends up there after a memorable river chase scene.