World’s longest tunnel slide to open in London

The ArcelorMittal Orbit is the tallest sculpture in London-- and its 72 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty. (AP Photo)

The U.K.’s tallest sculpture is about to get a radical new upgrade that will certainly delight thrill seekers.

London’s Orbit Tower will soon be home to the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide. Located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower caused a stir when it was unveiled ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games due to its sheer size and futuristic design.

Speeding down the slide. (Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park)

At 375 feet high, it's the tallest freestanding structure in the U.K. making it a popular tourist destination. Its unique location affords guest views that look east into London, enabling visitors to see skylines of up to 20 miles in each direction.

“What more exciting way to descend the ArcelorMittal Orbit than on the world’s longest and tallest tunnel slide?” Peter Tudor, Director of Visitor Services at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, said in a statement announcing the new slide.

“We are committed to ensuring our visitors have the best possible day out every time they visit Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and as with all our venues, we are constantly exploring ways to ensure we lead the way with the latest visitor experience. This slide really will give a different perspective of Britain’s tallest sculpture.”

The new slide starts 249 feet above the ground. (Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park)

The tourism office also hopes the slide will be a boon to dwindling park attendance. Since 2012, only 300,000 people have paid to go to the top of Orbit Tower, reports the Daily Mail.

Once completed, the new 584 foot slide will spiral down the red steel tower with 13 twists, a journey that will take riders about 40 seconds to complete. It is expected to cost just under $1.5M to complete.

Entrance to Olympic Park is currently 10 pounds (about $15.60) but riders will have to fork over an addition 5 pounds to board the extreme slide. The slide at Orbit Tower is slated to open spring 2016.