Tower Bridge is the Gateway to the Tower District

The district was typical of the Tower district, which includes Butler’s Wharf and Shad Thames where warehouses and brewhouses lay empty and deserted as the trade moved away. Urban canyons created by the high level warehouses lining narrow cobbled streets were topped by bridges linking adjoining buildings at all levels. It stretched for acres from Tower Bridge, upstream and downstream, an area right on The City’s doorstep waiting to be brought back to life.

The London Docklands Development Corporation saw the potential in 1984 and declared it a Conservation Area with ambitious plans to turn it into an upmarket live/work/dine district. Our content editor, Terry Walker wrote in the annual LDDC report to Parliament of "The grand canyons of tall warehouses on both sides of Shad Thames cross-crossed by overhead walkways to enable the dockers to reposition spices and other goods from around the world".

16 years on and the demise of several developers who lacked the long wallet to beat recessions, the place justifies the tag Mayfair on Water, emulating many of the attributes of the original Mayfair across the river. Virtually all the old warehouses have been converted into lofts and the ground floors of others have become restaurants for Presidents and Prime Ministers, Fat Cat bankers and their dealer chums.

Tower is now so good Americans have been swapping the traditional high style of Hampstead for the sundowner delights of a loft balcony alongside Tower Bridge. For rich Americans to quit Hampstead, Tower has to be world class. It is, with prices to match if some of those rapacious estate agents along the road get their talons into you.

Some of the best homes for your Tower district short-list:

THE CIRCLE striking condo
A combination of commercial and residential properties, The Circle has 300 apartments behind its strong blue tile facade. The 20 commercial units include studios, shops, a restaurant, health club and business centre. With a spectacular circular courtyard in Queen Elizabeth Street and the eight floor towers adding a striking look to the skyline, The Circle is one of the most remarkable spaces in London. This development is yet more proof of the growing importance of this area of Bermondsey and the bronze statue of a dray horse outside reminds us that beer was brewed here for generations.

RATINGS INDEX

Location 9. Water view 0. Ambience 8. Security 9.

Parking 8. Transport 8. Quality 8.

Station Jubilee 12 mins; DLR 12 mins

INVESTMENT INDEX

1989 studio £105K, 1-bed £182K

1994 2-bed £199K

CURRENT PRICES

HORSLEYDOWN SQUARE Outside in success
It was a long time coming, but suddenly the piazza-style development of apartments on a myriad of "Docky-name" lots, plus shops and offices, had a launch party to announce the start of marketing proper. The problem of designing for a site that was one block back from the river and pushed up alongside the huge bulk of Tower Bridge was overcome by turning the place in on itself, creating a huge piazza with apts over useful shops, offices, winebars and art galleries. There were bad years when a stream was found to flow through one block and early residents had to be decanted through dangerous workmanship. Today it’s a bustling location and there’s a new Jubilee station down the road to boost values.

RATINGS INDEX

Location 10. Water view 4. Ambience 8. Security 8.

Parking 7. Transport 9. Quality 8.

Station Jubilee/10 mins; DLR 7 mins.

INVESTMENT INDEX

10 yr

5 yr

NEW CONCORDIA WHARF The first warehouse job
This 19 century grain warehouse named after Concordia, a prairie town near Kansas City, Missouri, whose imported grain was stored before being handled by nearby mills, was Docklands first warehouse conversion. That was in 1985 and the following year developer Andrew Wadsworth was presented with the Europa Nostra Gold Medal Conservation Award and later still praised by HRH Prince Charles. There are 50 apartments, ten penthouses and 20 studio workshops with an indoor swimming pool, extensive riverside jetties and, latterly, a pedestrian bridge across the entrance to the Dock. Balconies have views of the Dock and River Thames and the penthouses have roof garden terraces with cityscape views. Still one of the best conversions in London.

RATINGS INDEX

Location 10. Water view 6. Ambience 9. Security 8.

Parking 8. Transport 9. Quality 9.

Station Jubilee/10 mins.

INVESTMENT INDEX

10 yr

5 yr

CHINA WHARF waterfront pagoda
China Wharf has received praise for its superb architectural design having received the Royal Institute of British Architects Urban Design Award at the planning stages before any construction of the site had started. In a prime position on the River Thames the development sits next to St Saviours Dock conservation area. The arches incorporated into the design of the building are reminiscent of Chinese design. The apartments have their own balconies and the penthouses have large roof garden terraces and riverside balconies.

RATINGS INDEX

Location 9. Water view 9. Ambience 8. Security 9.

Parking 9. Transport 8. Quality 9.

Station Tube 10 mins; DLR 15 mins

INVESTMENT INDEX

10 yr

5yr