Docklands, London

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a modern urban transport system (the trains are driven solely by computer), which provides the essential communications for the Docklands area. The extension east to Beckton, via the Royal Docks, opened in 1994. Between the stations of Gateway and Poplar the line follows the route of the earliest railroad in London, the London and Blackwall, constructed in 1840, which linked the City and the port. In the other direction one stretch follows the route of the Northern London Railway which was built in the 1850s to provide transport from the East and West India Docks to the industrial areas of the Midlands and the North. Between Poplar and Island Gardens the line runs high above the docks and then follows the track of the Millway Extension Railway, laid out in 1868, on which some of the trains were pulled by horses.The Lewisham extension was added in 1999 and the London City Airport Extension opened in 2005.

East of Tower Bridge, the old Butler's Wharf has been transformed into an exclusive shopping and residential complex. The Bramah Tea and Coffee Museum is nearby. A good impression of Victorian times may be gained in Shad Thames, the street behind Butler's Wharf.

Decorated sailing ships heralded the opening of St Katharine's Dock near Tower Bridge in 1827. Its future became uncertain, however, as sailing vessels increased in size beyond its capacity. St Katharine's Dock became the pilot area for redevelopment and was achieved without sacrificing any of its original character: old warehouses were converted to dwellings; the Dock Master's residence, the Dickens' Inn (1800) and the Ivory House, originally a store for ivory constructed in an Italian style, were renovated. New buildings were concealed behind old facades and accommodated institutions, such as the World Trade Centre. The area was saved from becoming a slum and transformed into a lively new quarter while retaining its old charm.

The warehouse at Tobacco Dock, built in 1811, stored tobacco and fleece under its roof. Both floors now house shops and restaurants; an exhibition on the lower floor traces the history of the warehouse. Of interest at the quayide are two replica sailing ships: the "Sea Lark", a pirate ship for children, and the "Three Sisters", a floating pirate museum.The tobacco Dock warehouse was turned into a shopping center in the 1980s and 90s but the venture failed and the building was left largely unoccupied but still open to the public.

The Museum in Docklands is located in the Georgian warehouses.The Georgian warehouses, built in 1802 and 1803, on the north wharf of West India Docks are the last multi-story warehouses which remain from that period.The Museum explores the story of London's River, Port and People, from Roman settlement through to the recent regeneration of London's former Docklands in 2000. The many galleries feature centuries of social and economic change.The Museum in Docklands is actually more popular with children then with adults and has some hands on displays targeted towards children under the age of 12.

The Pumphouse Education Museum is housed in the 1929 pumphouse, originally used to regulate water levels in the Dock System. Today the Pumphouse Education Museum contains both the The Rotherhithe Heritage Museum and the Lavender Pond & Nature Park. The Rotherhithe Heritage Museum covers a wide range of topics, from displays on life in the 20th Century to Roman artifacts from the River Thames.The London Pumphouse Education Museum attracts both young and old visitors and is popular with school groups, locals, and travelers.

Wapping, Limehouse and Poplar docks extend along the north bank of the Thames from Tower Bridge to the Blackwall Tunnel. The docks had already made their mark on the area in the 16th century and reached their peak in the 18th and 19th century, handling rice and tobacco. This booming industry contrasted sharply with the poverty and crime among inhabitants; public executions were held at Execution Dock, Wapping.The Wapping and Limehouse area was developed in the 1980s but was unsuccessful with much of the residential area left unsold. The areas were eventually occupied but did not become the upscale area that developers had hoped for.

The London Cruise Terminal at the Port Tilbury is London's primary cruise facility. From here, majestic cruise ships depart for distant ports of call. While docked, these mighty ships are a spectacle for all to see.Visitors who are stopping or spending time here have a few sightseeing options. Within a short distance of the London Cruise Terminal is the 17th Century Tilbury Fort and the stately mansion once owned by Charles II known as Audley End House and Garden. Also nearby is the Lakeside Shopping Center. For travelers looking to spend the night there are also a variety of accommodation options in the vicinity.

St Anne's Limehouse, built between 1712 and 1724, is the principal church of the Docks of London.It is the creation of Nicholas Hawksmoor, a student of Sir Christopher Wren's, and was restored in the mid 1800s by Philip Hardwick. The church was again restored in the 1980s and early 1990s by Julian Harrap. St Anne's Limehouse, one of the landmark attractions in Limehouse, has the highest church clock in London.

Surrey Docks extend along the south bank of the Thames from London Bridge eastwards to Rotherhithe and Greenland Docks. Its wharves were established in the 14th century, handling cargo of wood and grain. The "Mayflower" sailed from Rotherhithe for Southampton and Plymouth to take the Pilgrim Fathers to North America.The Surrey Docks closed in 1970. Since then the area has seen housing developments created, as well as the creation of a marina with over 200 berths.