WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
FOR THE BEST DOCKS LEISURE
There is water for rowing, windsurfing, sailing and jetskiing and being entertained on in London Docklands where ten miles of the River Thames joins 3,000 acres of some of the biggest Docks the world has ever seen.

Now, after 20 years of regeneration, there are scores of pubs, clubs and restaurants along the 55 miles of riverbank and wharves that enable customers to enjoy the watery views from terra firma, plus old public parks, new parks and waterside promenades designed to give more water access to more people.

The long awaited Thames Path is getting busier thanks to the growing number of tourists who enjoy the waterside meanderings that are often interspersed by cool pints in pubs or bars along the way.

We've listed some of our favourite waterside drinking places in Best of the East but a current favourite is the Sir Henry Johnson, a Dutch clipper moored in the Royal Victoria Dock at ExCel West, now signposted throughout the area if you are driving there.

This top-notch floater has a bar, three saloons and an awning covered deck for those sundowners and balmy evenings. It is the local for residents at Britannia Village, who stroll round the Dock or call in on their way from the DLR station and a true taste of Docklands for exhibitors and visitors to the ExCeL International Exhibition Centre.

On the south side of the Dock, the £12M European style Barrier Park is enjoying its first full summer as local families and visitors discover the secrets of this very special park which is like no other park in the capital. Riverside walks alongside the Thames barrier are augmented by footbridges over a river of foliage linking the Thames to Silvertown Way.

The park pavilion houses 4-star loos, including baby changing room. Driving is the best way to get to the park but within a couple of years it will have its own DLR station as the trains head into London City Airport..