From the Isle of Dogs, going under the Thames up to Greenwich. Nice views and the slopes of Greenwich Park. Welcome to the Land of the Docks.
| Time | ~ 3 hours |
| Starts | Canary Wharf / Mudchute Station |
| Ends | Cutty Sark Station |
| Highlights | Greenwich Tunnel, Royal Observatory, Ferry House pub, Greenwich Park |
1. Canary Wharf Station
You change from the Jubilee line to the DLR (Docklands Light Railway) at the Canary Wharf station. Go outside to get to the DLR station. During the 19th century, the dockyards at the Isle of Dogs bloomed. The big docks closed progressively during the 1970s and the last ones, the West India Docks and the Millwall Docks closed down in 1980.
2. Mudchute Station
The station opened in 1987, and was rebuilt in 1999 was originally intended to be named Milwall Park, but local people were concerned that visiting football fans would travel to the wrong station. Not realizing that the club´s ground is on the other side of the river. Here on the Isle of Dogs the football team, Milwall was founded in 1885. The team moved over to the south side of the river in 1910.
3. The Ferry House Pub
The Ferry House pub has known landlords and landladies since 1749. Close to the pub you also find the Old Fire Station, a restaurant serving brunches and dinners. Not far from here at the Island Gardens is entrance to the Greenwich foot tunnel.
4. Greenwich Tunnel
The entrance to the tunnel is in the little park Islands Gardens. The foot tunnel was built between 1899 and 1902 and replaced the ferry shipping the workers to the docks. The tunnel is 370 meters(1215 feet) long and the depth is about 15 meters (50 feet). The exit at the south shore is situated next to the Cutty Sark, her first voyage was in 1870 with the destination Shanghai.
5. The University of Greenwich
The University of Greenwich has three different campuses, one of which is since the 1990s located here in the Old Naval College facilities. The buildings were designed in the 1690s as the Royal Hospital for old and injured sailors. From 1873-1998 the site was the Navy´s officers’ training establishment.
6. Greenwich Power Station
You find Greenwich Power Station at the riverside. Today it is a standby gas power station used as an emergency power supply. The Trafalgar Tavern is a nice riverside pub with a great location, stay here for a drink and enjoy the view across the river.
7. The Queen´s House
The Queen´s House was a gift from King James I to his wife Anne of Denmark. The Queen never saw the house completed as she died in 1619 and the house was completed around 1636. Step into the Great Hall, a perfect cube, and check out the Tulip Stairs. In 1966 a famous “ghost photo” was taken in the Tulip Stairs.
8. The Royal Observatory
It is indeed a nice view up there over east London and the river Thames. Today the Royal Observatory is a museum. In the observatory, you find the Astronomy café and the Gagarin Terrace, made to honour the first man in space. You can visit the café and the terrace without visiting the museum.
9. Greenwich Park
Greenwich Park with its wonderful slopes is a great place all over the year. Take a stroll in the park and have a look at the sculpture “Knife Edge” by Henry Moore.
10. Greenwich Markets
It’s a good idea to visit Greenwich on market days. There is the Greenwich Vintage Market and Greenwich Market situated not far from each other. Close to the markets and Cutty Sark Station you also find both Greenwich Theatre and Greenwich Picturehouse.
11. Cutty Sark Station
From the Cutty Sark Station you can go north with DLR all the way to the Bank tube station or change to the Jubilee line at Canary Wharf.
