West India Docks
Planning your visit
Address: West India Docks, Lawn House Close, E14 9YQ View on Google map
Price: Once you're parked up, it won't cost you a thing
Toilets: Toilet are available in the nearby shopping centre
West India Docks - or Canary Wharf as you may know it - is now home to some of the world's largest banks and any number of hi-tech businesses. Yet once, London was once the busiest port in the world. West India Docks were the first purpose-built docks to be built there. Closed in 1980, the old docks were regenerated into the shops, restuarants and of course, Canary Wharf. And that regeneration continues today with luxury appartments and hotels being built all the time.
The docks still play a major role as moorings for barges and leisure river craft, and a through route for experienced canal and river navigators entering the Thames. But did you know The Canal & River Trust are responsible for managing West India Quay, as well as connecting canals and docks, including Limehouse Basin? You can visit our office to pick up a local visit guide or to find out about lock opening times.
Things to do and see
- Walking or dog walking
- Considerate cycling
- Sightseeing - Museum of London Docklands, Canary Wharf shopping centre, River Thames, The O2
Places to eat:
- The Gun
- All Bar One
- Café Rouge
- The Fine Line
- Gaucho
- Henry Addington
- Royal China
- La Tasca
- The Ledger Building
Boat trips:
Trails:
-
There are lots of information boards dotted around the docks
Wildlife spotting:
Cormorants are daily visitors here standing on the dock walls holding their wings out to dry or diving to the bottom in search of fish. Coots are one of the most adaptable of water birds using any bit of old floating debris as a nest site. On the dockside look out for tiny pied wagtails using their long wagging tails to help them skip and jump after flying insects.
A happy and healthy common grey seal has been spotted a number of times swimming around the quay enjoying the cast-offs from Billingsgate fish market!
Getting here
By car - there are public pay & display car parks at Canary Wharf, Jubilee Place, Bank Street
By train - Docklands Light Railway has stops at South Quay, Heron Quays and Canary Wharf itself
By boat - West India Dock lock is one of four locks from our waterways onto the River Thames. See our information on times and how to prepare to use the locks
