Discover the Docklands, London

An upcoming rival to the City in the financial sector is the Docklands in the east of London. As a city built on its booming river trade, the Docklands were developed to cope with the rise in business during the height of the British Empire. For visitors interested in the nautical history of London or for those visiting London on business, the Docklands is becoming increasingly popular as a place to stay and see the sights especially if staying away from the hustle and bustle of the West End is preferred. There is also a good chance that if you are in the area on business you will be headed to one of the conference centres located there!

The Docklands is best known for the tallest building in Britain - Canary Wharf Tower, on Canary Wharf which looks much like a huge thumb pushing the river Thames southward. Canary Wharf boasts some of the best shopping in London with a multi-level indoor shopping centre in Cabot Place East and Cabot Place West. For those not interested in shopping, there is also paintball and dragonboat racing. The neighbourhood also has lots of places to eat and drink and unlike many other areas in London, a table can be easily found on Friday and Saturday nights as most of the people seen during the day are there for work and the area becomes markedly quieter once the workday ends.

The museum in Docklands is a must see for those travelling to London. It tracks the history of the river and the people who made their livelihoods along its banks and on its boats and barges. The museum lays out the history of the area from the time of Roman settlement right up to modern times. The museum is housed in a converted Georgian warehouse and in all contains 12 major galleries and services geared at children and educational services. The museum also hosts a range of changing temporary exhibitions in addition to its permanent collection.

River views tend to create seafood cravings and a great place to satiate this feeling is to head across the river on one of the ferries to Greenwich's San Miguel Bar which specialises in seafood tapas. Great Spanish-influenced décor and ambiance adds to every meal taken, especially if accompanied by sangria or a glass of Spanish wine.

The area is close to London City Airport or can be reached by the futuristic Docklands Light Railway (DLR) or Jubilee line and there are many places to stay in the area with an abundance of hotels in London both in the Docklands and farther a-field around the city.

Adam Singleton is an online, freelance journalist and keen amateur photographer from Scotland. His interests include travelling and hiking.