Historic Limehouse, East London

Limehouse marina, photo: www.luphen.org.uk
This East London area suffers from a dual personality. On one side of Commercial Road it's standard East London residential, apart from the striking Hawksmoor church. But cross over to the other side of the main road and you're in an oasis of quiet which feels to me more like a holiday destination than a stretch of London wedged between Wapping and Canary Wharf. The first time I glimpsed Limehouse marina as I chugged past on the DLR I fell in love, and even now my heart soars every time I look at it.

Limehouse warehouses from the Thames, photo: www.charleslister.net
In addition to the lovely marina which links to the Regent's Canal, Limehouse boasts one of very few surviving early Georgian terraces in London. In the Victorian era seedy, smoggy Limehouse, then a thriving docks and riddled with bawdy houses and opium dens, was also the city's first Chinatown. A pair of dragon sculptures near Westferry DLR celebrate this history. Take a wander down Narrow Street and follow the footpath out onto the Thames walkway to see those few original warehouse buildings that survived the bombing of WWII.

Planning a trip:
Limehouse DLR is the closest station to the marina, or take the Jubilee line to Canary Wharf and take a very pleasant traffic-free amble along the Thames Path (about 20 minutes) via Westferry for great views into the city. There are a couple of pubs on Narrow Street, the 'main' road in this tiny area. Both are right on the river with great views and the sound of water lapping outside. Local resident Sir Ian McKellen owns The Grapes pub with friends while The Narrow is one of Gordon Ramsey's gastro pubs. For a fantastic Italian meal head to La Figa or for a snack you can't beat the Verde deli, both are placed around a lovely courtyard and fountain.





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