The History of the Royal Docks: Canary Wharf & Greenwich Private TourPrivate Tour

Discover the fascinating history of London’s Royal docks and explore Canary Wharf, home to the world’s most powerful docks and a great marketplace for the British Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries
Adults: 2 Children: 0
Total

Things to know

Duration:

3 hrs

Categories:

City Highlights, History, Museums and Galleries, Nature & Outdoors, Off the beaten path

Private Tour:

You and our own professional guide. 100% exclusive

Transport Mode:

Walking tour: no transportation is included

What's included:

A friendly, professional English-speaking tour guide for your own private group, Plenty of time to take photos of your favourite places.

What's not included:

Hotel pick up/drop off, Food and drink, Gratuities
Meeting points: Your guide will meet you outside Notes Coffee Roasters & Bar, Unit CR24, Crossrail Pl, London E14 5AR, United Kingdom

What makes this tour special

Explore London’s fascinating and often dramatic maritime history on this private tour of the Royal Docks on the Isle of Dogs, the financial centre at Canary Wharf, the amazing urban farm at Mudchute, and finally a walk along a hidden footpath under the Thames to the Royal Borough of Greenwich, to see the famous Cutty Sark, the magnificent Royal Naval College, and fabulous views along the Thames. 

On your private tour you will: 

Learn all about London's exciting maritime history - its global shipping trade, its famous naval captains and sea-dog adventurers and privateers, from Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh to Horatio Nelson. Learn all about the chequered history of the East India Company - founded in 1600 and whose piers were the first to be built. 

As you walk around the docklands and royal Greenwich, imagine the Thames filled with vast ships and sails, and the slow traffic of barges, boats, galleons, warships, and faster moving schooners and tea clippers - one of which you'll see: The Cutty Sark in Greenwich. 

The London Docklands cover 9 square miles of riverfront along the Thames, including the Isle of Dogs and the historic naval and royal borough of Greenwich, which you’ll explore on this tour. They have been in use for centuries as the hub of Britain’s global trade until most of them were destroyed during WW2. 

The West India Docks were three docks, built to import and export goods, and occasionally passengers, from and to the British West Indies. From massive warehouses, today the area of Canary Wharf has been redeveloped into the financial centre of London, famous for its glass and concrete buildings. It is dominated by the 45-story skyscraper, One Canada Square. 

Just south of here, you will visit Mudchute Park and Farm, the largest urban farm in Europe. It is a fascinating Nature Reserve where you’ll learn all about biodiversity and also the ‘dig for Britain’ campaign of WW2. 

Afterwards, head under the Thames on the footpath connecting the Isle of Dogs to Greenwich: a quaint and architecturally beautiful borough of London with deep connections to its maritime past. Greenwich is home to the magnificent Royal Naval College, which has been used for many filming locations, including Les Miserables, Poldark, and Bridgerton

End at a quaint pub on the river and enjoy fabulous views across the water of Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge, and the Shard. 

What you'll see

Book with Travel Curious, an exceptional experience guaranteed

Putting People and Planet First

Prioritising Your Safety

Flexible cancellation

Do not worry, we have you covered with our flexible cancellation terms.

Avoid the crowds

Travel like a VIP, avoid crowds, and unnecessary queues.

Authentic Experiences

Bespoke local tours handcrafted for you by our global travel specialists

Professional Guides

All guides are handpicked, trained and licensed to ensure you are immersed in the local culture

Carbon offset for

kg CO2e

Carbon Footprint

kg CO2e

Carbon Offset

Forestry Conserved

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FAQ

QWill there be other people on the tour or is it just us?
AAll of our tours are 100% private and exclusive, which means that it will just be you, your group and your guide on the tour.

Your tour will be completely tailored to your needs and we will make sure to find a guide that best suits your group.
QAre entrance tickets and transport included in the cost of the tour?
AIn the ‘Things to Know’ section at the top of this page you will find details of whatever entrance tickets and transport are included in the tour. If you have any questions about this, then you can either use the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, send an email to <reservations@travelcurious.com> or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QWhat is your cancellation policy?
AOn tours cancelled more than 48 hours before the scheduled departure time, we are happy to offer our customers a full refund - minus a 5% credit card fee and the cost of any tickets that have been purchased.

For tours cancelled less than 48 hours before the scheduled departure time, we are unfortunately unable to offer refunds. If you would like to reschedule a tour, this is usually possible if we are given enough notice, but we cannot guarantee the same guide.

Changes made to bookings may be subject to rebooking fees to cover the cost of tickets purchased, transport, guide rescheduling and administration.

To cancel or change your booking, please contact us at <reservations@travelcurious.com> or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QWho do I contact if I have any questions about this tour or if I want to make changes to my tour?
AAt Travel Curious, we provide a free concierge service to help you plan your time abroad and they will be able to answer any questions you may have about this tour or any other tours. We are normally able to customise or personalise tours to suit your needs.

Please do get in touch by either using the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, sending an email to <reservations@travelcurious.com> or calling 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
QAm I able to book more than one tour?
AAbsolutely, you can book as many tours as you like! You can add them to your cart by clicking the ‘Book Now’ button or you can get in touch and we can put together an itinerary for you. To get in touch, you can either use the chat button in the bottom right hand corner, send an email to <reservations@travelcurious.com> or call 1-212-710-1322 (US) or +44 20 3009 2392 (UK).
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