Escape the crowds with a gentle stroll by the water! The Thames is the heart of London and the reason for its existence. This tour starts at Tower Hill on the edge of Docklands where we will remember some of the people and institutions that made up London’s docks, before exploring the first of our docks, linked to the luxury goods trade.

The atmospheric neighbourhood of Wapping is dotted with historic riverside pubs and stories of smugglers and pirates. We will learn how this was countered with the creation of the world’s oldest uniformed police force and the creation of the 19th century cargo docks. These made London the “warehouse of the world” and we will explore some of the best-preserved stretches of Victorian warehouse architecture.

Of course nothing lasts forever, and London’s docks experienced a rapid decline between the late 1960s and late 1970s, before their most recent redevelopment and reimagining. The tour ends with a symbol of this rebirth – Canary Wharf

Meeting Time: at 5:45pm for a prompt start at 6pm
Meeting Place: just outside the exit from Tower Hill tube station, London, EC3N 4DJ
End: approx. 8pm in Wapping (5 mins walk from Wapping Overground station, or alternatively catch a bus back to Tower Hill)
Post-tour drinks: Caroline will not be booking a table for post-tour drinks, but there is a great option near the end of the tour which she can recommend