The Ultimate Local's Wapping Guide
Old converted warehouses, ancient pubs, Execution Dock replicas, quaint riverside terraces, picturesque cobbled streets and much much more. Continue reading our local’s Wapping guide for everything you need to know about this historical part of London.
Wapping is a tiny area in East London between Tower Bridge and Limehouse. It’s characterised by quaint cobbled streets, old converted warehouses, historical pubs and gorgeous riverside properties.
We grew to know Wapping very well on our daily lockdown walks when we lived in Limehouse. So, in this Wapping guide, we’ll tell you a bit about its history, the main sights and the best places to eat and drink.
There’s also a fantastic looped walk we’ll share which starts and ends at Tower Bridge, covers the main sights and offers you a great tour of Wapping.
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The History of Wapping
We’re going to kick our Wapping guide off with some history.
Wapping is steeped in hundreds of years of history which is evident in old warehouses, ancient pubs, the remains of docks and rickety staircases leading to the river.
Wapping was first mentioned around 1220 and originally it was believed that the name derived from an Anglo-Saxon settlement linked to the name Waeppa.
However, recent findings suggest the name came from the word wapol, meaning marsh as the area was once marshland where it was unlikely there had ever been any settlement.
In 1395, the settlement began to grow with the construction of a wharf, known as Wapping-on-the-Woze (mud). During the 1500s, following the draining of Wapping Marsh, this riverside hamlet saw full-scale development and became the Wapping we see today.
For centuries, Wapping had a strong maritime presence due to its proximity to the river. Sailors, mastmakers, boat-builders and other seafarer traders lived in the area.
For over four hundred years, it was the site of London’s infamous ‘Execution Dock’ where pirates, mutineers and other water-borne criminals were hanged.
They were hanged from a gibbet over the Thames, close to the low water mark and traditionally remained hanging while three tides washed over them.
In the 19th century, Wapping’s maritime associations changed drastically with the construction of London Docks.
This led to a decline of the area’s population by almost 60% as docks and warehouses were built in place of houses resulting in this neighbourhood becoming isolated from the rest of the city.
In the early 1800s, Marc Isambard Brunel constructed the Thames Tunnel running from Wapping to Rotherhithe giving the area a bit of a boost.
This was the first underwater tunnel in the world that saw around 24 million pedestrians pass through it before becoming part of the East London Line in 1869 providing direct access to the rest of London.
The Second World War had devastating results on Wapping. It suffered badly from bombing raids and the post-war closure of the docks.
It was left neglected until the 1980s when the area started going through huge amounts of regeneration. The London Docks were largely filled in and redeveloped with residential and commercial properties.
In 1986, Rupert Murdoch’s News International built a huge publishing factory in Wapping, leading to the ‘Wapping Dispute’.
This area became the scene of protests after production moved here from Fleet Street and introduced new technologies, resulting in over 5,000 employees losing their jobs.
Today, the area is full of life with restaurants, bars, shops, hairdressers and beautiful upmarket homes along the river.
Top Things to do in this Wapping Guide
Next, in our Wapping guide, we’ll share some of the best things to see and do.
Drink in the Historical Pubs
The best thing to do in this Wapping guide is to have a drink in the historical pubs!
Wapping is home to London’s oldest riverside inn, The Prospect of Whitby. Dating back to the early 1500s, it was a former meeting place for smugglers, sailors, cut-throats and footpads.
Next to the pub are Pelican Stairs leading to the Thames where you’ll also find a replica of the old Execution Dock.
Another historic pub to visit is the Town of Ramsgate. This Grade II listed building sits in a small rectangular area between Wapping Old Stairs and Oliver’s Wharf and has a long narrow shape leading out to a quaint riverside terrace.
Wapping Old Stairs, running next to the pub was once where condemned pirates were chained to a post to drown as the tide rose. At low tide, you can still see the post. On a happier note, however, this was also where returning sailors were met by their sweethearts after a voyage.
In between these two pubs is Captain Kidd, housed in a converted coffee warehouse. The pub was opened in 1980 and named after William Kidd, the 17th-century pirate who met his fate at the nearby Execution Dock.
The interior of the pub is designed similarly to a ship’s hulk and retells the story of William Kidd. Out the back is a beautiful large outdoor terrace overlooking the river. Perfect for an afternoon drink in the sun.
St Katharine Docks
Next in this Wapping guide is one of London’s most beautiful areas; St Katharine Docks.
Close to Tower Bridge, St Katharine Docks is Central London’s only marina. Once the site of the 12th-century ‘St Katharine by the Tower’ hospital, it’s now home to up-market restaurants, boutiques, hotels and offices.
Despite its central location, St Katharine Docks is never too busy and provides a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Stroll around the marina before heading to The Dickens Inn for a drink and admire the yachts from its outdoor terrace.
Our Top Tip: a great Saturday afternoon activity is a historic pub crawl. Start at The Dickens Inn, make your way to the Town of Ramsgate, then Captain Kidd and finally The Prospect of Whitby.
Shadwell Basin
Shadwell Basin was once part of the historical London Docks and remains the only non-landfilled part. From one side of the basin are magnificent views of Canary Wharf and on the other side is the city.
In the summer, you’ll see groups of people sitting around the edge, going for a peaceful stroll, fishing or even going for a swim! There’s also an Outdoor Activity Centre for kayaking, canoeing and sailing.
Walk Along the Canal
Wapping is a beautiful area for a stroll. Towards the end of this Wapping guide, we’ll share a walk that takes in most of the sights, but for now, we’ll just mention the canal.
The Ornamental Canal runs through the centre of Wapping and is lined with pretty brick buildings. You’ll usually find swans in the canal and if you’re here in the spring it’s littered with cygnets.
It’s also a very popular area with walkers and joggers, so if you can get here early, we’d recommend doing so as it can get crowded.
Tobacco Dock
If you stroll along Ornamental Canal, at some point you’ll come face to face with a large ship. This may seem a bit out of place but you’ve reached Tobacco Dock which was constructed in the early 1800s and served as a hub for imports from the New World; mainly tobacco.
In 1990, this Grade I listed building was converted into a shopping centre with the intention of creating the “Covent Garden of the East”. This was, however, unsuccessful and the development went into administration.
Today, Tobacco Dock is one of the city’s top events venues and conference centres. There’s also a large rooftop bar with amazing views of the city you should definitely check out!
Dining in Wapping
In recent years, the massive regeneration of Wapping has led to some amazing restaurants so next in our Wapping guide is all about where to eat!
Our favourite restaurant is Il Bordello, a gorgeous authentic Italian restaurant. The prices are a lot more reasonable than you’d expect in this area and the portions are huge! The staff are always very friendly and there’s a lovely buzzing atmosphere. It’s very popular so book a table!
If seafood is where your heart lies, Smiths of Wapping is where to head to. The restaurant boasts spectacular views overlooking The Thames and the food is always of outstanding quality.
Set in a converted warehouse, River View is a Chinese restaurant specialising in seafood but still serves all of the classics. There’s also some outdoor seating next to the river.
Laksha Bay is an Indian restaurant offering fresh authentic food with friendly service and a great atmosphere. The decor’s probably in need of a spruce up but the food more than makes up for it.
Getting to Wapping
Before we wrap up our Wapping guide with a self-tour walk, we’ll quickly explain how to get there.
Wapping Overground is the main line running through Wapping and stops on the high street. Shadwell DLR is a fifteen-minute walk and Tower Hill and Tower Gateway are a twenty-five-minute walk. If you want to do the walk below, we’d recommend heading to these stations.
Wapping is also served by buses 100 and D3.
Self-Tour of Wapping
The final part of our Wapping guide is a great self-tour that starts and ends at Tower Bridge.
The walk is approximately 5 kilometres and should take about an hour if you walk it in one go. We’d recommend setting aside a few hours, however, to take in the sights and stop off at some of the pubs.
Starting at Tower Bridge on the north of the river, walk along the water next to St Katharine’s Pier and cross the bridge by the sundial. Following this path, you’ll reach St Katharine’s Docks.
We’d recommend walking a loop of the docks and stopping at The Dickens Inn which can be done now or at the end.
Leave St Katharine’s Docks along St Katharine’s Way and at the end of the road, turn right onto Wapping High Street. You’ll pass Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden on your right where you’ll see one of the best views of Tower Bridge.
A little further on you’ll come to The Town of Ramsgate. Feel free to walk down the alleyway to the right and check out the post where pirates were left to drown (tide dependent).
Continue down the high street, past old converted warehouses until you reach the Captain Kidd pub. Even if you don’t fancy a drink, you should definitely check out its large outdoor terrace with views across the river to Rotherhithe.
A short way on, just after River View Restaurant, turn right down Wapping Wall. This is the most picturesque street in Wapping. The converted warehouses line quaint cobbled streets and it feels a world away from a bustling modern metropolis.
Continue down this street until you reach The Prospect of Whitby. Walk down Pelican Stairs to the right of the pub. Hopefully, the tide won’t be too high and you can walk on the beach and see the replica of the Execution Dock.
Just around the corner of The Prospect of Whitby is Shadwell Basin. This is where you’ll turn around and loop back. Cross the bridge, look to your right and admire the view of Canary Wharf and then take the path on your left alongside the basin.
On the other side of the basin, don’t come up onto the road, instead, walk along the canal and underneath the bridge until you reach Wapping Woods.
Cross straight over Wapping Woods and this is where Ornamental Canal begins. Tobacco Dock is a little way along here, head up to the roof garden for incredible views across the city.
Continue following Ornamental Canal all the way along until you hit Wapping High Street again. You should recognise where you are now. Straight ahead is Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden and to your right is St Katharine Docks.
We hope this Wapping guide has been helpful in planning your visit. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or contact us!
2 thoughts on “The Ultimate Local’s Wapping Guide: Best Things to do”
Thanks!
You’re welcome, I hope you enjoyed the guide 🙂