Harrow and Wembley Outdoor Group - St Katharines, Hawksmoor and Docklands History Walk

Activity

This 7-mile linear walk takes in historic quarters of London's Docklands, two Hawksmoor churches and a hidden away Yurt Café by Limehouse. We start by Paul's café by the Tower of London, with great views of the oldest Royal Palace, under Tower Bridge to St Katharine Docks. This was the location of St Katharine's Hospital, a medieval establishment. London Docklands were created after 1800 to substantially increase the capacity of the largest port in the world at that time. St Katharine's was the first to close, in 1968, due to containerisation. We continue via Telford's Bridge (scene of last explosive scene in the Sweeney feature film) towards Hermitage Basin. We will admire the Georgian mansions at Wapping Pier Head before heading north via Tobacco Docks. Nearby locations were the setting for key scenes in "Long Good Friday", made in 1980 when the last of the docks closed and Harold Shand foresaw the staging of the Olympics. We will visit St George in the East, one of the finest Hawksmoor churches. Detour to Cable Street to see the mural to the famous riots in 1936, plus a walk alongside the very well frequented cycle superhighway. We will pass some impressive conversions of former industrial sites before reaching the lunch stop at the Yurt Café. This is the new location of St Katherine's Foundation, a charity, with training centre with a Yurt Café in gardens next door. We continue to Limehouse Basin, the hub of Docklands and canals in East London. St Anne's Limehouse is another fine Baroque Hawksmoor church. Route continues passing several larger former Docklands now converted into watersport venues. Aim to finish at new Crossrail station at Canary Wharf.

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