2012 Olympic Games Venues Beyond London

At the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the canoe, kayak, rowing and sailing events will be held on various waterways in and around the London area.

Mountain bike cycling will take place on a new course in Essex, about 40 miles (65km) from Central London.

Follow our handy guide below to the 2012 Games venues outside London.

City of Coventry Stadium

The City of Coventry Stadium is home to Championship football club Coventry City; during 2012, it will host part of the football competition. Coventry is ideally located in the centre of England, in a city which already has strong links with London 2012, and is confirmed as a Live Site venue, meaning a big screen will be installed at the Coventry Transport Museum in the city centre.

Eton Dorney

About 25 miles (40km) from London, near Windsor Castle, this area is home to both Eton College and Lake Dorney. The lake, where rowing and flatwater canoe/kayak and Paralympic rowing will be held, features a 2,200m, eight-lane course with a separate return lane recently constructed to international standards by Eton College. Eton Dorney will host up to 30,000 spectators each day during the Olympic Games. Eton Dorney is located next to the river Thames.

Hadleigh Farm, Essex

Hadleigh Farm is located to the east of London, in Essex. It's owned by the Salvation Army, and covers a 550-acre site including beautiful grassland and woodland, including Hadleigh Castle Country Park. The site is hilly with open grass land covered by low shrubbery, and offers fantastic gradients for mountain biking and great viewing opportunities for spectators.

Hampden Park

Hampden Park is a football stadium near Glasgow in Scotland. It'll host part of the London 2012 Olympic football competition. Hampden Park recently completed a £70m refurbishment and is now rated as a five-star venue by UEFA, the governing body of European Football.

Lee Valley White Water Centre

The Lee Valley White Water Centre is 18.5 miles (30km) to the north of the Olympic Park, near Waltham Cross. During the London 2012 Games, the course will be used for canoe slalom events, hosting 12,000 spectators each day. The centre features world-class runs, including a permanent 300m competition course and a 100m warm-up course. It will be a major centre for white water rafting as well as canoeing and kayaking both before and after the Games, when it will be operated by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

Millenium Stadium

The Millennium Stadium is right in the heart of Cardiff, Wales, on the banks of the River Taff. The Millennium Stadium has hosted many top sporting events, including FA Cup finals and the 1999 Rugby World Cup Final.

Old Trafford

Old Trafford is one of the most famous football grounds in the world. Sometimes called the "theatre of dreams", Old Trafford is home to Manchester United Football Club. It first opened in 1910 and recently expanded to 76,000 seats. It is the second largest football ground in the UK, and will host part of the football competition during London 2012.

St James' Park

St James' Park is home to Newcastle Football Club, and is situated right in the city centre of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the North East of England. It seats 52,000, and has a reputation for its great atmosphere, created by the ardent Newcastle United fans.

Weymouth and Portland: Olympic and Paralympic Sailing

Aerial view of Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, where the Olympic Sailing events will be held in 2012. Courtesy London 2012

Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour provide some of the best natural sailing waters in the UK, with facilities on land to match. This will be the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic sailing competitions. The site has already hosted numerous international sailing events, including the 2006 ISAF World Youth Championships, attended by more than 60 nations.