St Katharine Docks
yachts and tall ships by tower bridge
A historic marina tucked right beside Tower Bridge, free to wander, where yachts and old Thames barges moor among cobbled quays, cafes and a centuries-old pub.
Free to visit · Tower Hill · Tower Hill · E1W 1LA
Opening: Open access · waterside always
Hidden just past the Tower of London, almost in the shadow of Tower Bridge, is a tranquil marina most visitors walk straight past. St Katharine Docks was once a busy cargo dock, and after the trade left it was reborn as a yacht haven, its basins now full of gleaming boats and the odd majestic old Thames sailing barge.
It is free to wander, a surprisingly peaceful world of cobbled quays, footbridges and waterside cafes that feels a long way from the crowds around the Tower next door. The Dickens Inn, a converted old warehouse draped in flowers, has been pouring pints here for decades.
It is the kind of place you stumble on and feel pleased with yourself for finding. A free, calm, watery pause built right into one of the busiest tourist corners in London, and a lovely spot to sit by the boats with the towers of the City rising behind.
Getting there: A couple of minutes east of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, a short walk from Tower Hill.
Best time to go: A sunny afternoon for the boats and the reflections, or whenever the historic ships and barges gather for one of the dock's festivals.
Insider tip: Reach it by walking around the east side of the Tower of London rather than the main road. You escape the crowds almost at once, and the dock makes a perfect free, quiet breather between the Tower and the river path east towards Wapping.
Official site: https://www.skdocks.co.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide