Set on the north bank of the River Thames, the St. Katharine Docks opened in 1828 while the British Empire was at its height. Along with other docks in the area, they welcomed shipments of goods that would find their way into shops and markets across London. The docks were badly damaged by bombing raids in World War II and lay derelict until the 1990s, when they were transformed into the mixed-use development you can see today.
The docks are popular with photographers interested in capturing photos of historic sights. Book a photography tour to see the area from a professional’s point of view, or, if you’d rather learn about local history, you can join a guided walking tour.
The St. Katharine Docks include the only marina in central London.
The area is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
The docks host a lunchtime street food market on Thursday and Friday.
St. Katharine Docks are located on the north bank of the Thames River in Wapping, close to Tower Bridge. You can reach the area by taking the Dockland Light Railway to the Tower Gateway station the Circle and District Lines to Tower Hill.
The docks are open to the public all year round. Special events are common and include the annual classic boat festival in September, food markets, and even art exhibitions.
Located just a few-minutes’ walk from St. Katharine Docks, Tower Bridge is one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Finished in 1894, it is a feat of Victorian engineering designed to allow the roadway to split into two halves that rise to allow tall sailing ships to pass through so they could dock at nearby wharves. The bridge still raises several times a day, so if you’re lucky, you might catch it in action.
