Trinity Wharf, East India Docks, City Island – 4.4 km
- Philip Carey
- Oct 16
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
This comprehensive set of guides for runners and striders provides all the necessary information to complete the self-guided route in one place, allowing you to explore at your own pace. This is a special route across the river Lea to the hidden delights of City Island, Trinity Wharf and East India Docks. It is great for river and dockside views, city island spaces, nature reserves, historic and iconic sights, transport links, and water activities. It is partly off-road, and there are several places to eat and drink around Royal Victoria Dock, Trinity Wharf and City Island.
The Familiarisation Guide provides all the core route information.
The Sightseeing Guide and Virtual tour guide add points of interest and 360-degree information.
The Connoisseur's Guide offers recommendations for places to eat, drink, and be entertained, as well as suggestions for exploring the surrounding areas.
THE EXPERIENCE
A special route across the river Lea to the hidden delights of City Island, Trinity Wharf and East India Docks.
London is full of hidden places to delight all your senses, but sometimes you must find where they are hidden. This route starts in the new thriving areas of Royal Victoria Docks, which combine water sports, cable car trips across to the O2, and fantastic dockside views. It makes its way to the newly developed City Island via the Lower Lee Crossing.
The historic Trinity Buoy Wharf, in contrast, is hidden away on the other side of the River Lee and is home to London’s only Lighthouse, a vibrant creative community, a sculpture park, an event venue, and places to eat and drink. You will also discover the East India Basin's nature reserve and great riverside views across the O2 and Canary Wharf.
THE ROUTE FAMILIARISATION GUIDE (Level 1)
This guide provides you with the essential information you need to become familiar with the route before you arrive.
An overview map, My Google Map, and Strava Map to help guide you along the route
A video showing you what the route looks like as if you were running it at over 40 km/h.
Information to bear in mind along the route.
MAP OF THE ROUTE
The links to My Google and Strava Maps are designed to help you keep on track and limit the chances of getting lost. They don't provide turn-by-turn directions, but they do show your location relative to the route. They will open in a new tab.
The Google map shows the main route in red
HIGH SPEED VIDEO OF THE ROUTE (6:42)
The high-speed video of the main red route is designed to get you visually familiar with the route ahead of your visit. It shows you a runner's view as if they were sprinting at over 40 km/h
THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND
The route is generally quiet with a few secluded spots and is great to do at any time of the day.
The East India Basin section only opens from 8:00 until dusk
Traffic is only an issue at the start, as the route runs close to the Silvertown Tunnel
Route and Accessibility – The route is accessible with a mix of pavements and riverside paths. The route can get a little busier in the centre of City Island.
Route Blogs – Its best to have the Detailed guide (Blog), the Google Map, and the Strava Maps to hand for reference
THE ROUTE SIGHTSEEING GUIDE - (Level 2)
Once you are familiar with the route, why not take the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the sights along the way, take photos, and learn a bit about the area's history the next time you take it? The sights include:
Victoria Dock
City Hall
IFS Cloud Cable Car
Trinity Buoy Wharf
Orchard Dry Dock
East India and River Views
Virginia Settlers Monument
City Island Gardens Activities
English National Ballet
For more information on these and other sights nearby, see the gallery and the supporting text below
Virtual Tour Guide
This virtual tour guide is designed to help you familiarise yourself with the route and enhance your memories of 'being there'. Clicking on the picture will take you to a new page showing a map of 360 locations in the area. Click on the location icons, and you will be transported to an interactive 360-degree view of that area - in a new tab.
THE ROUTE CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE - (Level 3)
Once you are familiar with the route and its sights, why not become a connoisseur of the area and explore the surrounding routes that will uncover new things to see, places to eat, drink, and be entertained?
FOOD AND DRINK LOCATIONS
There are only a few eating and drinking locations along this toute. These are at the start (around the waterfront, around City Hall and the nearby hotels), within the centre of City island and a smaller selection at at Trinity Buoy Wharf
THINGS TO DO LOCATIONS
The main two (paying) activities on this route are the IFS Cloud Cable Car to the O2 at the start and a visit to the English National Ballet on City Island. City Island also has the Arebyte Gallery. However there are plenty of places to spend time exploring incling Trinity Buoy Wharf, the Bow Creek Ecology Park on City island, the East India Basin Natural Reserve, the Viginia Monument, Victoria Dock and City Hall.
ROUTE EXTENTION
Apart from doing this route in reverse there are no recommended route extensions at this time.
FOLLOW ON ROUTES
If you want a 'follow-on' route, try the 'Docklands – Poplar Dock, Canary Wharf, South Dock – 4.0 km route.' This is part of a connected series of routes that will take you across London to Hyde Park.
