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East London

Directly to the east of the City of London is the Borough of Tower Hamlets which includes the neighbourhoods of Bethnal Green, Bow, Globe Town, Isle of Dogs, Poplar, Stepney and Wapping. Until relatively recently the housing stock here consisted largely of local authority properties, but this area has changed significantly with lots of old warehouses being converted into expensive designer loft-style apartments for the City’s young professionals. The whole of the southern boundary of the Borough lies on the River Thames and it is in this area that the top of the range apartment complexes with river views can be found. Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Petticoat Lane Market and St Katharine’s Dock are all tourist attractions here.

Wapping (E1) particularly has seen a resurgence with the building of new printing works for the national press and large warehouses turned into designer flats for the City’s young professionals.  The whole of the southern boundary of the borough lies on the River Thames and Free Trade Wharf on The Highway is a notable example of the top of the range flats with river views that can be bought in this area.  Oliver’s Wharf, Gunn Wharves and New Crane Wharf are other attractively refurbished apartments with basement car parking facilities along the narrow cobbled Wapping High Street. Locke’s Wharfe is another new development of apartments and townhouses here. Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Petticoat Lane Market and St Katharine’s Dock are all tourist attractions in this area.  The public transport network in The Docklands area are excellent with the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the Jubilee Line extension running under the Thames to London Bridge, Bermondsey and Rotherhithe before turning north again to the Isle of Dogs and Stratford. Further development continues with large Thameside developments, providing apartments and penthouses with leisure amenities and parking and other new offices and apartments from converted warehouses.

Shadwell (E1) sits alongside Wapping and has similar features, although there are fewer brick warehouses. Shadwell Basin has undergone extensive redevelopment and there are many modern properties overlooking the water. Bow conservation area and the localities around the Regent's Canal and Limehouse Cut are increasingly fashionable with contemporary apartment blocks filling the old brownfield sites.

Tucked in a bend in the River Thames is the Isle of Dogs (E14). Much of the road of the road infrastructure here has been upgraded and the Docklands Light Railway has improved travel options. Housing in the Isle of Dogs reflects the extremes of the old and the new with high specification apartments sitting alongside traditional docklands tenements, with recently developed apartment blocks at New Atlas Wharf, Cyclops Wharf and St David's Square. On the southern tip is Burrells Wharf an apartment complex where many of the homes have views across the river towards Greenwich and the Cutty Sark.  At New Providence Wharf there is another new urban quarter consisting of residential and retail units with restaurants, leisure facilities and an hotel.  Silvertown has been redeveloped into a new Urban Village incorporating residential, leisure and business provision in the Britannia Village, Barrier Point and Tradewinds developments. Facilities include a primary school, village hall, village green, shops and restaurants. Silvertown Quays, a further mixed development centred around the National Aquarium is still under construction.

Canary Wharf (E14) can be seen for miles around advertising the surfeit of prestigious and expensive office and residential accommodation in this area. Canary Wharf also benefits from superb transport links and great shopping facilities. Canada Place and Jubilee Place provide a huge variety of retailing opportunities from supermarkets to Italian designer labels plus the addition of City staples like traditional shirtmakers and tailors. The quality properties in this area are in contemporary developments, many have extras like pools and gymnasia within the buildings.  River views always command a premium. A prestigious development of one to four bedroom apartments, The Canary Riverside complex encompasses landscaped gardens, swimming pool, tennis court and a choice of restaurants. New Providence Wharf is another contemporary development including apartments, an hotel and shops.  Millenium Quarter, minutes from Canary Wharf, is another mixed apartment development of leisure, entertainment and retail facilities.

Next to the Royal Victoria Dock is King George V Dock, alongside which stands London City Airport. Nearby is North Woolwich Pier, the northern berth for the Woolwich Ferry. Custom House and Beckton lie to the north of the docks and there has been a lot of housing developments here over the past few years which has improved the housing stock in this industrial area. There is easy access to the North Circular Road and the district is served by the Docklands Light Railway. The City Farm is located in Beckton which is an interesting place to visit.

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