West India Docks

West India Docks - or Canary Wharf as you may know it - is now home to some of the world's largest banks and 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, restaurants and of course, Canary Wharf. This regeneration continues today with luxury apartments and hotels.

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.

Things to see and do

Planning your visit

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