London Guide: Ten Things To Do In St Katharine’s and Wapping. This part of East London runs along the north side of the Thames between Tower Bridge and Limehouse. It’s a great place to explore at the weekend because it feels undiscovered and secret. See wonderful wharf warehouses, historic pubs, beautiful churches, quaint cobbled streets and ancient stairs leading to the Thames. Read about my Ten Things To Do In St Katharine’s and Wapping to find out why this is such a fascinating part of London to explore.
Wapping Sign
Ten Things To Do In St Katharine’s and Wapping List
10 Things to do in Katharine’s and Wapping
1. Dine Alfresco at St Katharine Docks
2. Admire the Thames View at the Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden
3. View Boats at the Hermitage Community Moorings
4. Enjoy a Pint at the Historic Town of Ramsgate Pub
5. Pretend You’re a Pirate at the Wapping Old Stairs
6. Walk Around St John’s Gardens
7. Tuck into a Hearty Breakfast at The Turk’s Head
8. Take a Stroll through one of the Parks
9. See an Exciting Art Exhibition at the Wapping Hydraulic Power Station
10. Appreciate the Amazing Architecture
Ten Things To Do In St Katharine’s and Wapping Details
St Katharine Docks: Start your exploration from St Katharine Docks (St Kats) which is a luxury Marina behind Tower Bridge on the north side of the River Thames. You can eat at one of the riverside restaurants, bars and coffee houses. Read my St Katharine Docks Restaurant Review. During the summer months, on Thursday and Friday lunchtimes, you can eat street food from the Kerb Food Market. Read my St Katherine Docks Street Food Review. St Katharine Docks Website
St Katharine Docks
Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden: This is a small park facing the River Thames where you can sit down and get a great view of Tower Bridge and The Shard. This is a memorial to the residents of East End London killed in the Second World War. The location was destroyed by a bomb in 1940. You will see a dove sculpture by Wendy Taylor and if you look through the cut out of the Dove you will see The Shard in the distance. Located at the start of Wapping High Street.
Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden, Dove Sculpture by Wendy Taylor
Hermitage Community Moorings: At the end of the Hermitage Riverside Memorial Garden a number of boats moored. This is run as a co-operative which provides berths for 23 vessels, many are residential. The idea is to foster a community of like-minded people who use or live on boats and the preservation of historic craft. Located at 16 Wapping High Street.
Hermitage Community Moorings
Historic Town of Ramsgate Pub: Established in 1545, this pub is steeped in history and has changed its name along the way. It is called the Town of Ramsgate because the fishermen of Ramsgate landed their catches at Wapping Old Stairs to avoid river taxes near Billingsgate Fish Market. Located at 62 Wapping High Street, London E1W 2PN. If you want the oldest pub in the vicinity you might like the Prospect of Whitby which dates back to 1520. It’s located at 57 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SH.
Town of Ramsgate Pub
Wapping Old Stairs: Near the pub go through one of the alleyways to the stairs. At low tide, you can see the post where condemned pirates were chained up to die when the tide rose. The stairs are famous for Captain Bligh visiting to inspect the Bounty Ship. Located at 51 Wapping High Street, London E1W 2PL.
St John’s Gardens
St John’s Gardens: Wander through the garden at St John’s Churchyard. The church was mostly destroyed in World War II and is now a public garden. There are two tombs on the grounds. Opposite the entrance gate, you can admire the St John Wapping School which was erected by subscription A.D. 1760 and has a statue of a boy and a girl on the façade. Located at Wapping High Street, London E1W 2PL.
St John Wapping School
The Turk’s Head: Get your breakfast fix at this family-run pub. Choose pancake towers, a full English or veggie version. They are also open for lunch serving burgers with fries and tapas. Located at 1 Green Bank, London E1W 2PA.
The Turk’s Head
Parks: There are a few green spaces in the vicinity. Take your pick from Wapping Gardens (Trench Street), Wapping Rose Gardens (Wapping High Street) and Wapping Green (Wapping Lane). Please note online research has noted anti-social behaviour at some of the parks so be aware of what’s going on around you.
Wapping Rose Gardens
Wapping Hydraulic Power Station: This former power station with machinery still present, is now an exhibition space, arts centre and restaurant. It is a Grade II* Listed Building. When I’ve walked past this building recently it looks as though it may have closed.
Wapping Hydraulic Power Station
Architecture: As you walk through the area you can admire amazing architecture for free. You’ll find a mixture of converted old wharf warehouses with original iron winch systems mingled with newer apartment blocks with balconies overlooking the Thames.
Converted Warehouse Apartments
Ten Things To Do In St Katharine’s and Wapping Information
To find out more about St Katharine Docks you can read my article about St Katharine Docks Waterside Dining and Kerb Street Food Market at St Katharine Docks. For historic information read the Wikipedia Wapping Page and St Katharine Docks Page. To see more photographs, view my Love St Katharines and Wapping London Pin Board.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. Thanks: Homeboy for exploring the area with me.
