Greenway to Thames
Passing through three parks, a farm, a meadow, a marsh and a lake en route to the ferry port, stopping to appreciate long views over the docks and the monolithic outline of Canary Wharf on the horizon: perhaps it is time to re-think ‘the East End’...
Greenway to Thames
This is the seventh Section of the Jubilee Greenway. This is a short route that leads from the Greenway down to the Thames at North Woolwich - to the Woolwich Free Ferry, and pedestrian subway.
Begin on the Greenway, following the Capital Ring sign by turning right down steps or a cycle ramp into Stokes Road. Enter a short alley between housing. Keep straight ahead into Stokes Road.
Turn left into Roman Road, E6, and then right into Noel Road, E6. A bridge looms into sight ahead. Cross this, either by stairs or cycle ramp and go over the busy thoroughfare of Newham Way (A13). At this point the Canary Wharf buildings can be seen in the distance to the right. A road sign on the A13 announces ‘Beckton Alps’. Over the road to the right is an Olympic Tiles warehouse.
Pass through North Beckton into Viking Gardens, and enter through a gate (with brick posts) into Beckton District Park North. Stay on the main path which leads through the park, avoiding side turns (though it is worth taking a short detour to the right to see the lake).
Cross Tollgate Road, and enter Beckton District Park South at the Tollgate East Entrance. There are dark blue railings to the left. A sign points to the Sports Centre (1/4 mile). The path is close to some houses on the left, but open land and trees to the right. The path veers uphill to the right into Wildflower Meadow. Huge pylons loom ahead.
A short detour to the right leads to Stansfeld Road, on the other side of which is King George V Park in West Beckton, which contains Newham City Farm.)
Follow the Capital Ring through Beckton District Park. Pass under a high metal barrier. Note the Will Thorne Pavilion (on the left), and a multi-coloured playground (also left). There is also a school to the left, and ponies graze freely here. (Stansfeld Road leading back to Newham City Farm is on the right.)
At the next junction, follow Capital Ring signs by veering left.
There is a sign indicating –
Royal Albert Station 1 ¼
Woolwich Foot Tunnel 3 ½
On the right is a football ground. Here the path is wide and tarmacked and passes through a nicely placed avenue of trees.
Turn right, sign-posted Beckton Park DLR Station 1 ¼. This leads through trees to further green fields to the right. York Close is on the left. Further ahead is a housing estate. Follow the sign to Beckton Park DLR Station to the right.
Follow sign to New Beckton Park and Stroud Pavilion. Pass through a housing estate (Harper Road is to the left). Go straight on into Savage Close. New Beckton Park is now on the right, and football is played here.
There are houses to the left. (Pass Truesdale Road to the left). Turn right alongside New Beckton Park, passing through metal gates. There are green railings to the left, with Stroud Pavilion behind. Curve left and right, passing Alphabet House Montessori Nursing School on the left. Fairly modern houses are ahead and New Beckton Park still to the right.
Turn left at the Capital Ring sign along a route with hedges and a small field to the left, and housing and a small playground to the right. At some stone bollards, veer right, the path swinging through a housing estate. Swing towards the left past 92-138 Renfrew Close on the left and pass a road barrier (which has been known to be closed, which could be difficult for cyclists).
Go straight ahead into Leayroyd Gardens, E6, pass Royal Docks Medical Centre on the left, and at the main road (unmarked here but East Ham Manor Way), turn right. There is a sign ‘Shop’ to the left. Proceed to the roundabout, at Cyprus Place, which diverts the pedestrian round to the right and then to a left turn leading towards the University of East London Docklands Campus (to the right). There is a sign, which includes –
Woolwich Foot Tunnel 2 ½
Turn left and rejoin Cyprus Place, turning right. Pass The Ferndale Bus Station, and further to the left, The Ferndale pub (boarded up). Opposite this take the small path to the right, through a metal barrier. (Yeoman Close flats are to the left). Follow the path, with houses close on the left-hand side. This path runs alongside the busy Royal Albert Way to the right.
Turn right at a road (which may be Gullivers Close – there is no sign), where there are railings. A sign directs to Gallions Reach DLR Station. In front are the ochre, green, yellow, maroon and blue buildings of the residences for the UEL Docklands Campus. Turn slightly left at a controlled crossing over Royal Albert Way, and straight on from the traffic island over another road, and then turn right. Veer left, again following Gallions Reach DLR Station sign.
Pass a Pump Station to the left just before Gallions Roundabout. (Do not follow any more signs to Gallions Reach DLR Station, which is to the left.) Cross here to the right at a controlled crossing, go under the District Light Railway viaduct and over the road, turning up to the right over the Sir Steve Redgrave Bridge (also known as Woolwich Manor Way), which crosses the Royal Albert Dock Basin). On the left is the large Royal Quay development, being built by Gladedale. Pass Royal Albert Dock on the right and Gallions Point Marina to the left.
Pass King George V Dock on the right (beyond which is London City Airport). There are distant views of the Dome and Canary Wharf. Pass Custom House on the left. Woolwich Manor Road makes a slight right and left bend.
Cross over Bascule Bridge (which can open to admit large vessels). Pass the entrance to Royal Albert Basin Gallions Marina on the left (where there is the first glimpse of the Thames to the left).
Cross the traffic lights, and turn left into Fishguards Way, E16. A sign indicates Grimsby Grove. Go ahead into a parking area. Cross a road straight ahead into Galleons Point (spelt thus this time). The London Medical Centre is on the left. Cross another small road. Head towards the River Thames, straight ahead at Hobart Wharf, with a view of Woolwich across the river. Turn right in a westerly direction along the north bank of the Thames, along a wide esplanade with Waldair Court flats on the right.
At the end of this it is necessary to turn right, then left across a slope and right into a narrow path alongside the river. A sign forbids water-skiing in the river.
At railings at the end, turn right, and continue round left and then right, passing a tidal protection wall on the right, and crossing over an old river entry. Go up to the riverside walk, at which point go through Royal Victoria Gardens. There is an old steam hammer on the right. Keep going straight ahead, through some gates with a heavily graffiti-covered wall on the right. Some steps up afford a view of the Old Station Museum in the former Great Eastern Railway Museum, at North Woolwich.
At the end of the riverside walk, the path zig-zags up right and left, and ends close to the Woolwich Free Ferry at North Woolwich Pier, which conveys passengers and vehicles across to the south bank of the Thames at Woolwich. Heading to the right, there is an alternative route via the round-domed building, which is the entrance to the Woolwich Foot Tunnel.
Near here, is the King George V DLR Station – 550 meters away.
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The Royal Albert Dock is one of three docks in the Royal Group of Docks of east London, now part of the redeveloped Docklands.#|26/02/2009#51.503611#0.048889#London City Airport#London City Airport DLR station is a station on the Docklands Light Railway which serves the London City Airport, and which opened in 2 December 2005. It is located on the King George V branch. Trains run westbound to Bank in the City of London and eastbound to Woolwich Arsenal.#