St Katharine's Dock

Historic St Katharine's Dock is now a substantial marina for leisure craft and a popular draw for tourists looking to soak up a little of Old Father Thames. Its old warehouses have been refurbished as modern office accommodation, along with new domestic housing developments and a selection of shops and restaurants.

The docks were built in the early 19th century for what was then the astronomic sum of £1.3million. The works - one of the biggest projects ever attempted in the capital - were carried out by the famous engineer Sir Thomas Telford: they are his only major London project. The complex consists of three inter-linked docks, connected to the Thames by a lock to protect water levels in the docks from tidal variations.

Moving forward to the late 20th century, the project to transform St Katharine's from a partly-derelict dock to an attractive leisure-based centre was among the first of its kind. To an extent, St Katharine's Dock suffers from being first and some aspects of its conversion now seem insensitive, particularly the horrendous structure of the Tower Thistle Hotel, erected so close to the Tower of London.

As well as the hotel, there are several restaurants around the dock, a newsagents, a chandlery and a vast pub, The Dickens Inn. There is a large Sainsbury's supermarket within five minute's walk east through the dock complex.

Many famous London attractions are just a stone's throw away. Immediately adjacent are the famous lifting Tower Bridge (Tower Bridge Experience Visitor Centre: 020 7403 3761), the Tower of London (020 7709 0765), the HMS Belfast Museum (020 7940 6300) and the up-market shops, restaurants and bars of Butler's Wharf (directly opposite St Katharine's Dock on the south bank of the Thames). A little further afield are St Paul's Cathedral, the City of London and the vast South Bank arts and leisure complex including Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (020 7902 1400) and the Tate Modern (020 7887 8000) art gallery at Bankside. Nearest tube: Tower Bridge.

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