With so many amazing attractions to see in Britain’s capital, London Docklands is often overlooked. Here are some ideas which may tempt you to think out of the box and discover this history-packed area just north of the River Thames.
London Docklands history
Construction on London Docklands began in the early 1800s at the time of increased growth of the British Empire. Overseas trade was booming and the need for larger and deeper docks came with it. The first docks to be built were the East and West India docks followed by the massive 13-metre-deep Victoria Dock, a massive undertaking for the period and named after the reigning British queen.
Next came Albert Dock in 1855 which included warehouses and a railway, creating an industrial hub for the city. With the growth of the docks came increased employment and the need for new housing for the influx of workers to the area.
The last dock to be built was St Georges dock, opened in 1921 and the docks became collectively known as The Royal Docks. An important feature of the new dock was its huge entrance, big enough for the RMS Mauretania ocean liner, famously used as a troop carrier and navy hospital in WW1.
Fast forward to WW2 during which, the Royal Docks suffered sustained bombardment. It wasn’t the war however which pushed the Royal Docks into decline, instead, it was modern technology of the time in the form of shipping containers a more efficient and economical way of moving goods which were introduced in the 1970s and 1980s.
The 1980s saw a massive regeneration of the docks with the formation of the London Docklands Development Corporation. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) was built, along with London City Airport. Canary Wharf, a massive modern complex of buildings was built, becoming the financial beating heart of London.
ExCel, a new exhibition, conference and events centre was opened at the dawn of the new millennium followed by the new University of East London. New luxury apartment buildings and hotels followed and today, London Docklands is a thriving commerce destination and sees thousands of leisure and business visitors each day from across the globe.
Things to do in London Docklands
ExCel
ExCel is a large exhibition centre hosting events all year round, including music concerts, business and leisure conferences, expos and theatrical productions. Check out excel.com to see what’s on during your visit. ExCel has numerous exhibition halls, food outlets and attractions and has won numerous sustainability awards.
The O2
Built in 1999 ready to mark the new millennium, the O2 has made its mark on London’s skyline with its iconic white dome shape, The O2 sits on the southern side of London’s Royal Docklands and hosts regular music concerts with bands such as Coldplay, The Rolling Stones and Oasis having regularly included it on their tour schedules.
The London Docklands museum
The Docklands Museum traces the history of London’s Royal Docklands from its inception to the modern day, a fascinating place to spend an hour discovering this important part of London. The museum is open Monday to Sunday 10am to 5pm and entrance is free. Visit the website for more info.
Cable Car at London Docklands
The IFS Cloud Cable Car crosses the River Thames between Greenwich Peninsula and the Royal Docks. From the ride, some 90 metres above the Thames you can see sights such as St Paul’s Cathedral, The Gherkin building, Maritime Greenwich and the Thames Barrier. The ride is also open at night for views of the area under the stars. Visit the website for more info.
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf forms part of the City of London business district. Building began in the area in the 1980s in the latter part of the London Docklands redevelopment programme. Famous for its impressive skyline with tall skyscrapers sitting somewhat incongruously alongside listed heritage buildings, the district is home to huge corporations including, Barclays, Citigroup, Clifford Chance, Credit Suisse, Ernst & Young, Fitch Ratings, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, MetLife, Morgan Stanley, Royal Bank of Canada, Deutsche Bank, Meagher & Flom, State Street, The Economist Group and Thomson Reuters. Canary Wharf is an 8-minute tube ride from ExCel (Custom House Station) on the Elizabeth line.
There is so much to see and do in Canary Wharf it deserves its own blog post, check back soon.
Victoria Dock Bridge
The Victoria Dock Bridge is an impressive footbridge spanning the Royal Docks and is a great viewpoint to see aircraft taking off and landing from the nearby London City Airport and to see the O2 in the other direction. The bridge is accessed by an elevator or steps, but be aware the elevator was out of service when I visited; apparently, this is a regular thing!
Thames Barrier
An amazing feat of engineering and fascinating to visit, the Thames Barrier opened in 1984 and was built to protect the floodplain of Greater London. The barrier is made up of a series of moveable steel gates which span a 17,000-foot stretch of the river Thames. The system is retractable, when the gates are ‘open’ they lay on the river bed and when they are ‘closed’ the huge gates rotate upwards to create a massive barrier preventing London from flooding during high tide and storm surges.
Food Trucks in London Docklands
Feeling hungry after all that sightseeing? London Docklands boasts a number of food trucks located just by the Cable Car. These trucks are open all day and into the evening and serve a range of food from Turkish, Armenian, Mexican, Japanese, Indian, Thai and much more. Tasty food at a great price, make your choice and then find a bench to sit by the river and relax and enjoy.
West India Quay
An important part of London Docklands history, West India Quay is a grade 1 listed heritage building which was originally used to store goods brought in from overseas when the docks were in operation. Goods such as rum, sugar and tea would have been stored here. The building is the last remaining brick warehouse in the area. It is now home to a cinema, hotel, restaurants and the London Docklands Museum.
The Line Sculpture Trail
Featuring sculptures from famous artists such as Antony Gormley, Damien Hurst and Tracey Emin, this fascinating trail runs from London Docklands, through Greenwich and to the London Stadium. This is a fascinating way to spend a couple of hours.
The London Stadium
If you’ve followed the Line Sculpture trail all the way, you will find yourself at the London Stadium (formerly the Olympic Stadium). Built to host London 2012, the Stadium located at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is now home to Premier League football club West Ham United and UK Athletics. The multi-purpose, 60,000-seat stadium also hosts rock concerts and was recently the venue for Foo Fighters’ tribute concert for drummer Taylor Hawkins who tragically passed away in 2021.
If you want to see a Premier League match, tickets are not very easy to come by, especially if West Ham are playing a rival London team but you may get lucky by visiting the club website.
Sunborn Yacht at London Docklands
This beautiful yacht-turned-hotel is moored in Victoria Dock and is open for non-staying guests for an exquisite afternoon tea for around 45 pounds per person, or why not add a cocktail each for a supplement? The elegant Land’s End restaurant is also open for non-resident guests but tables must be booked in advance. The Sundown bar is also open to the public and offers wonderful views of the area. Overnight stays on the yacht are reasonably priced for the experience starting at around 220 pounds per room depending on season and availability.
Where to stay in London Docklands
London Docklands has a wide range of reasonably priced hotels, especially when you compare the standard and cost as compared to central London hotels.
Ibis
Ibis hotels offer great value for good accommodation throughout Europe and the Ibis London Docklands is no exception. Prices from 170 pounds per room, some with river views. Breakfast is available at a supplement.
Novotel London
Another excellent chain of hotels. I was fortunate recently to receive a free room upgrade which was excellent. A spacious room, modern decor, wonderful shower and the luxury of robes and slippers. The Novotel also has river-view rooms and access to a good gym is available. The hotel has a lovely bar and restaurant with a terrace overlooking the water. Definitely my number one choice. Prices per room from 190 pounds per night.
Crowne Plaza
Prices start at 190 pounds per room per night and the hotel is located close to the cable car and City Hall.
Moxy Hotel
A modern hotel chain known for its funky decor, the Moxy is one of the most reasonably priced hotels with rooms starting at 165 pounds.
The Good Hotel
The Good Hotel Group is an international chain of hotels with a conscience. The group provides long-term unemployed people with the opportunity to build a career in hospitality. The London Docklands Good Hotel is a floating hotel created from a disused barge. The story of the hotel and the group is quite fascinating and you can read more here. From just 125 pounds you can enjoy a great experience and give back to society at the same time.
Where to eat in London Docklands
Food Trucks
We already mentioned the food trucks. Definitely a great option for some food on the go.
Docklands Bar and Grill
Serving contemporary European food, this attractive restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Royal Victoria Dock. ££
The Gun
A high-end pub serving excellent modern and traditional British cuisine. ££
China Palace
An oriental restaurant located in an old docklands warehouse. Good food and reasonably priced. ££
Marina Grill
Tasty Indian food in a location overlooking the river. ££
Tapa Tapa
Spanish restaurant in a warehouse building, with excellent reviews. ££
Zero Sette
A modern restaurant serving tasty Italian and Mediterranean food. ££
Sunborn Yacht
Definitely for a special evening. The Land’s End restaurant onboard the Sunborn Yacht has a delightful a la carte menu and a taster menu. This setting really can’t be beat. £££
How to travel to London Docklands
The closest airport to London Docklands is London City Airport (LCY) which only operates flights in the UK and select destinations in Europe.
Stansted Airport (STN) is easy to get to from London Docklands using an overland train to Liverpool Street station and the tube to Custom House on the Elizabeth line. Stansted mostly serves European and Middle Eastern destinations, although connections with Airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet or Whizzair are frequent and reasonably priced. Emirates flies to Dubai from Stansted.
London Heathrow (LHR) is London’s main airport with flights from all major international carriers across the globe. London Heathrow can be reached from London Docklands easily by tube from Custom House station on the Elizabeth line. No changes are required except for Heathrow T5 where you would change at Ealing Broadway.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) is London’s other major airport, although actually located far south of the city in West Sussex. To travel from Docklands to London Gatwick you would take the tube from Custom House station, change at Canary Wharf and change again at London Bridge where you would take an overland train directly to the terminals.
Travel to Central London or other parts of the UK from London Docklands
You can get to Liverpool Street station in Central London by tube in 20 minutes from Custom House station on the Elizabeth line. From there you can change to other lines to visit other parts of London or pick up overland trains or buses to explore the rest of the UK.
Q & A
Why should I stay in London Docklands?
London Docklands offers such good value for money compared to hotels in Central London where you can pay over the odds for a small cramped room, I would suggest anyone visiting the city stay in the London Docklands area and travel into the centre using the excellent tube train network.
Is London Docklands a nice area?
Docklands is a nice area, with trendy bars and restaurants, good hotels and modern apartments. It feels safe when walking around but as in any city, you should be aware of your surroundings.
Where in London is Docklands?
Docklands is located in northeast and southeast London. It forms part of the boroughs of Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Greenwich.
Which tube station is in London Docklands?
The tube stations in the area are Canary Wharf and Custom House. Custom House station also connect to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR).
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I go to London occasionally and usually head to the centre, visit the parks, shops and a few museums or landmarks. I love to go to West End shows etc. However, I have never even thought of going to the docklands! I love the way the area has regenerated itself and become such a hub. I shall definitely make a point of exploring the next time I head south!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy your trip!
We are planning a trip to London next spring. Thanks for this idea!
This is my old home! Such an underrated part of London to explore –Canary Wharf has so many good spots!
Oh that’s cool. I used to live further south in Battersea. Yes I am going to do a full post on Canary Wharf at some stage.
Our family explore the Docklands Museum last time we visited London. It looked fun for all of the little kids there on a school trip and even kept our older girls interested.
Oh that’s great, yes it is quite interesting!
This is an area of London I was unfamiliar with – very interesting! 🙂
Thank you Jody!
I just visited Canary Wharf in September. It is an easy trip via Elizabeth Line from Heathrow. The hotel rates are slightly less expensive in the nearby neighborhoods.
I really like the London Docklands – so much water! Especially it can be a nice (and quiet) place to stay on a modest budget with London’s sky high accommodation prices! Thank you for sharing!
I have never heard of the London Docklands! It seems like a cool place to visit. Thank you for sharing!