Walking Tour - London's Port History - Part 4 The Surrey Docks and Dockland

This series of walks tells the story of the Port of London through four guided walks. Led by Footprints of London guide Rob Smith, each walk covers a different period in the development of the Port of London from the Romans to Canary Wharf

Walks are at a moderate pace, with frequent stops, where we will look at some of the legacy of the Port of London – street names, mooring posts, cranes, plaques etc. We will look at old maps and photographs as we walk, and there will be chance for questions and discussion. Each walk will last about two hours and cover 1.5-2 miles distance.

As recently as 1979, 85% of the area around what is now Canada Water was occupied by the waters of the Surrey Commercial Docks. Since then, there has been a radical transformation, the former docks and timber storage ponds becoming woodland, parks, housing, and shops. A new phase of development is bringing change again.

On this 4th guided walk in the series, Rob will find the buildings from the old docks that have survived, explain how the docks worked and tell the story of their complex history. He will also explain how this part of London transformed into Docklands and why it is different to Canary Wharf, its neighbour on the other side of the river.

The walk is three miles long and includes some steps and uneven paths. It finishes at Surrey Quays station.