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London/Docklands

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The Docklands is an area of East London. The area stretches from the edge of the City of London along the river to Beckton. The area encompasses the historical docks of the port of London, which declined after the Second World War. The area has been extensively redeveloped since the 1980s, and is now predominantly an area of giant offices and mid to upmarket housing, although elements of its historic purpose can still be found.

For travellers, the major feature of interest is the Canary Wharf development, home to some of London's tallest buildings. However, there are also other areas of Docklands that are of interest to those with more time to explore the area.

Wapping, the part nearest the City, is an area with many cobbled streets and warehouse conversions retaining some of its former character. The area is also dominated by the giant News International facility.

Limehouse extends from the edge of Wapping to Canary Wharf. Bypassed by the Limehouse Link road tunnel, it is a quiet, predominantly residential area, with a few riverside pubs of note.

The Isle of Dogs extends south from the Canary Wharf development and is a mixture of light industrial, office and residential areas, with a large park at Mudchute that contains a City Farm. At Island Gardens there are noteworthy views across the river to Greenwich.

The Royal Docks extend east and are at an earlier stage of redevelopment than most of the rest of Docklands. They are dominated by the giant Excel centre and are the home of London City Airport. Aside from these there are few reasons for travellers to visit them.

The Surrey Docks and Rotherhithe on the south of the river are sometimes included in descriptions of Docklands.

[edit] Get in

Historically poorly connected to the rest of London, with the development of the Docklands Light Rail (DLR) and the extension of the Jubilee Underground line, transportation has become much easier and more efficient. You may wish to arrive by DLR to experience the views from the train on approach and leave by the Jubilee to see the impressively large station, which has been compared to a cathedral.

Because Canary Wharf is a large office development, it is inadvisable to travel to or from the area during the peak commuting times (8-9am and 5-7pm), unless you enjoy being crushed on to public transport.

[edit] By tube/DLR

  • Jubilee line to Canary Wharf
  • Many of the DLR stations are, unsurprisingly, in Docklands. There are three stations on the Canary Wharf development: West India Quay, Canary Wharf and Heron Quays. Heron Quays is best for interchange with the Jubilee line. The stations are a short distance apart so you don't need to use the DLR to get around within Canary Wharf.

[edit][add listing] See

  • Canary Wharf, (tube: Canary Wharf), [1]. a vast shopping, eating, entertainment and (primarily) business complex, home to Britain's tallest skyscraper, One Canada Square. There is a substantial amount of information about the history and the architecture of the development on the website of Canary Wharf Group, the company that owns the development.  edit
  • Museum in Docklands, (DLR: West India Quay), [2]. 10am-6pm. Tells the story of the development of the Docklands from Roman and Viking times to the present day. £5.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

  • The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome), (tube: North Greenwich). Concerts, cinema and restaurants.  edit
  • Cineworld Cinema, 11 Hertsmere Road (tube: West India Quay).  edit
  • Excel, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock (tube: Custom House), ☎ +44 (0)20 7069500 (), [3]. Exhibition and conference centre. The venue hosts such public events as the London Boat Show, the British Motor Show and the London Triathlon as well as numerous trade shows. It will be a venue for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics for sports such as Boxing, Table Tennis and Fencing.  edit
  • Walk. If you feel adventurous then spend a sunny Sunday afternoon walking the north bank of the River Thames to Tower Bridge in the City of London.  edit
  • Cycle. Hire a bike and cycle around the island. There are lots of cycle paths and great riverside views of the City of London and Greenwich.  edit
  • Canary Wharf Ice Rink, (tube: Canary Wharf), [4]. A café and bar, and the only genuine Central Park style skating in London, in the smart Canada Square park surrounding by glittering office tower blocks. Winter only  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

Enter the air conditioned shopping mall at 1, Canada Square E14, and you are in an American style air conditioned shopping centre. All the usual High Street shops, plus a John Lewis department store and a Waitrose food store which has the most stunning range of produce.Pleasant upmarket shopping centre, made up of three arcades: Canada, Cabot and Jubilee Place. The three arcades encircle Jubilee Park and the tube station, and house over 200 shops, bars, restaurants and cafes that are open seven days a week. A relaxed shopping environment, especially good for clothes.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are many restaurants in Docklands clustered around the new developments of Canary Wharf. Some of the best are listed below:

  • Plateau Restaurant Bar and Grill

4th Floor, Canada Place, Canary Wharf E14. Tel: 020 7715 7100 Modern French restaurant - part of the Conran restaurants group. More informal Bar and Grill includes steak grills and hearty regional french dishes. Two bars.

  • First Edition

25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7513 0300 International cuisine with continental and Far Eastern influences compliment a wide range of fresh seafood. Extensive wine list served by the glass. Private affairs welcome.

  • Sri Nam

The North Colonnade, Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7715 9515 Fine dining restaurant offering authentic Malaysian, Thai, Chinese, and Singaporean cuisines. A wide variety of drinks, cocktails and snacks are offered. Private dining rooms available by request.

  • Itsu

Second floor, Cabot Place East; kiosk - jubilee link, Canada Place, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel:020 7512 5790 Conveyor belt sushi restaurant, more on the side of "fusion" than traditional. Japanese Sushi along with a wide range of dishes reflecting a strong Asian and Vietnamese influence. Take away boxes are available. Fresh cocktails, sake and Japanese beer at the relaxed bar.

  • Wagamama

Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7516 9009 Noodle and rice dishes freshly cooked in a well-designed canteen style restaurant. See detailed review in Chains reviews section of London article.

  • Carluccios

Nash Court, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7719 1749 Authentic Italian Cafe with all Italian dishes developed by Antonio Carluccio himself. There is also a genuine Italian deli with take out lunches, meats, cheeses and a range of branded products and gift items.

  • Tiffinbites

22-23 Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, E14. Fast Indian cuisine where ancient tradition meets 21st century. Lunch and dinner menus as well as a great list of cocktails.

  • Nandos

Unit 24-26, Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4QT. Tel: 020 7513 2864 Traditional Portuguese style food, specializing in their famous Peri-Peri chicken flame grilled to perfection. Family style atmosphere is relaxed and always friendly.

  • Gaucho Grill

Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7987 9494 The Argentinian cowboy, the gaucho, made famous the tradition of cooking fresh meat over charcoal grills. The large horseshoe bar offers traditional South American cocktails and beer.

  • Royal China

Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7719 0888 Popular restaurant with a great view of the Thames River. Decorated with Royal China gives a contemporary feel. Enjoy dim-sum as well as an extensive menu.

  • Café Rouge

Mackenzie Walk, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7537 9696 Waterfront Parisian Bistro. Wide selection of food and wine in a relaxing setting.

  • The Fine Line

Fisherman's Walk, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7513 0255 Lunchtime menus include a mixture of continental and international meals. A snack menu is available in the evening. Two mezzanine areas at the bar for private party bookings.

  • Quadrato

Four Seasons Hotel, Canary Wharf, Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7510 1857 International classics for breakfast and northern Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. The Tuscan Sunday Brunch and cocktails at bar Quadrato should not be missed. Watching chef Sebastiano Spriveri at work is a main attraction.

  • Waitrose Food and Home

Canada Place, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7719 0300 Six different eateries under one roof. Waitrose Steak and Oyster Bar, Salad and Juice Bar, Tapas Bar, Moshi Moshi Sushi Bar and many other options.

  • Scu-zi

Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7519 6699 The funkiest restaurant and bar on the Thames river. Pastas, pizzas and salads are complimented by a first class selection of wines, spirits and cocktails.

  • Zizzi

Westferry Circus, Canary Riverside, Canary Wharf, E14. Tel: 020 7512 9257 Serves authentic pastas and pizzas. During the summer a large riverside terrace affords sweeping views over the River Thames.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Many of the bars on the Canary Wharf development are indistinguishable chain bars, although they are very popular with office workers on weekday evenings, particularly Thursday and Friday. Most are closed at weekends, but there are usually one or two open if you want to visit then; the area is generally very quiet at this time, which you may or may not consider a good thing! Nearly all have outside areas adjacent to the water which can be pleasant in summer.

  • Fisherman's Walk, to the north of North Colonnade, has three adjacent bars: The Cat & Canary, The Fine Line and Davy's.
  • Immediately across the dock, West India Quay has several bars. There is a Wetherspoons pub at the west end which, although the view is not so good, is probably the cheapest pub in Canary Wharf.
  • Mackenzie Walk, to the south of South Colonnade, has a number of bars and restaurants.

The following are two 'real' pubs.

  • The Gun on the far eastern edge of Canary Wharf - 18th-century pub with real fires, a terrace where you can sit and stare at the Millennium Dome over the river, and pistachio nuts behind the bar. A haven of warmth after a trek through JG Ballard-style Docklands wasteland (empty streets, vast satellite dishes and rusting industrial machinery).
  • The Spinnaker near South Quay - nothing particularly to recommend this place, except that it is a real pub, a rarity in Docklands!

Waitrose's wine bar is also a pleasant and good-value place to sit and sip, though it closes when Waitrose does (i.e. around 9pm).

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

Travelodge London Docklands is a gem of a hotel for this area at a highly affordable price for London. It is a modern branch of the ubiquitous budget hotel chain, but is well located almost next to East India DLR station, which has links directly to central London, and is just a few stops from Canary Wharf itself. A fantastic place if you want somewhere comfortable and private in London for a weekend or even a week! The website [5] often has fantastic rates that can be as low as £9 per night. Ask for a room on the front to avoid the busy road at the back.

[edit] Mid-range

  • Britannia International ***, 163 Marsh Wall, E14 9SJ (tube: South Quay). Located in the popular Docklands area, this extremely modern hotel.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Hilton Docklands, 265 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 5HW (20 minutes to London City Airport), ☎ +44 (0)20 72311001. Located on the South bank of the River Thames the hotel has a great view of Canary Wharf.  edit
  • Marriott West India Quay, 22 Hertsmere Rd, E14 4ED (tube: West India Quay), ☎ +44 (0)20 70931000. Looking out over Canary Wharf's beautiful district, the Marriott combines elegance and comfort to create a welcoming environment.  edit
  • Ramada London Docklands Hotel and Suites ****, 2 Festoon Way, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1RH (tube: Prince Regent), ☎ +44 (0)8701 118779, [7]. Located next to the ExCel exhibition centre this hotel has a waterfront position and offers modern comfortable accommodation and including suites for longer stays.  edit
  • Four Seasons Hotel Canary Wharf *****, 46 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London, E14 8RS (tube: Canary Wharf / Westferry), ☎ +44 (0)20 7510 1999, [8]. The most upmarket hotel in the area with views across the Thames or Canary Wharf, offering the kind of 5 star luxury to be expected from this chain.  edit

[edit] Contact

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