The London Docklands

We start in the shadow of Tower Bridge and travel east to the old Docks and the new financial city at Canary Wharf

Now is the time to come back and see how much has happened in the London Docklands. Although this day stands alone as a good first time exploration of the area it is also ideal for groups that have previously visited to come back and catch up with this very dynamic area.

When we first took groups to see the emerging London Docklands in 1988, Mrs. Thatcher was still in power, ladies jackets still had massive shoulder pads and Canary Wharf was but a twinkle in the developers' eyes. We’d start with morning coffee overlooking the old Pool of London at Hays Galleria - a refurbished warehouse complex that stood alone on the riverside, one unbroken tooth in a ravaged jaw. In the afternoon we’d visit the old docks and tour the brown field sites conjuring skyscrapers and business cities from our imaginations. As the years passed we charted the waxing and waning fortunes of the docklands dream. Canary Wharf shot up from the dirt and the Mezuzahs of orthodox jewry adorned its doors. For a brief spell we even took groups to the top floor viewing gallery. Then it went broke and the cry of white elephant went up before salvation and Arabic money arrived and this project, far too big to fail, began to thrive.

Come back today and you’ll see a massive workforce, many not even born in 1988, who arrive daily by light railway, Jubilee Line and commuter boat to a financial centre integral to London’s fortunes and impossible to imagine away; our own mini-Manhattan. 

Meet our guide at 10-30am on Tooley Street to buy morning coffee and see how the old warehouse development of Hays Galleria is now flanked by a new generation of developments that stretch right down to Tower Bridge. We’ll recap the story of the port and docks as we drive through historic Wapping and out to the Royal Docks where there has been a great deal of residential development in the past 10 years. Then we turn back towards the Isle of Dogs before stopping on Canary Wharf to explore and have lunch.  

In the afternoon we visit the gem that is the Museum in Docklands housed in historic sugar warehouses and packed with fascinating things. There’s a cafe on site to buy tea before heading home at 4-45pm. 

Easy walking and as a brand new area of London one of the best for wheelchair users.

Available every day of the year.  

Adults & Seniors: £10.50
Price valid 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013

Coach Mileage: 10

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