Paradise Gardens festival

Paradise Gardens opened in style this weekend by welcoming 40,000 people to sample one of the weirdest and most wonderful festivals in London.

Paradise Gardens festival

The gardens, in Pontoon Dock, will be open for three years and will provide a cultural epicentre in the Docklands.

The site will host open-air theatre productions, an urban nature reserve, and regular live music and film events to cement its status as one of East London’s most important cultural destinations.

The opening weekend proved a roaring success, and organisers are keen for people to continue to make the most of the gardens throughout the summer.

A statement from the Directors said: “We are so happy that London Pleasure Gardens is now open, and that our first event was a free celebration which everyone could enjoy. This is an evolving project, so with each new happening at London Pleasure Gardens there’ll be more to see.”

Paradise Gardens festival

The gardens are expected to prove a major draw at this summer’s Olympics, with organisers expecting as many as 395,000 visitors during the Games.