History of the Limehouse Cut

Navigating from the River Lee to the River Thames using nature's intended route necessitates traversing Bow Creek, a winding tidal waterway not best suited to inland vessels.

The River Lea Act 1766 authorised the construction of the Limehouse Cut, a straight section linking the Lee Navigation at Bromley-by-Bow to the Thames at Limehouse. It saved sailing barges coming down the Lee to London from having to wait for the tide before navigating the long southward loop of the Thames around the Isle of Dogs. Historically the Limehouse Cut attracted an unsavoury reputation and was once known as ‘London's Chinatown' but massive redevelopment over recent years has improved both the canal and the surrounding area substantially.

The exit lock from the Cut to the Thames was replaced in 1968 by a short length of new canal linking the Limehouse Cut with the Regent's Canal Dock. No longer used for transhipment between canal craft and coastal vessels this is now known as Limehouse Basin and has been transformed with new housing, a marina and a wide range of environmental improvements including walkways and boaters facilities.