Although not strictly a “Secret London” destination, the Museum of London Docklands isn’t on the usual tourist path like its bigger brother in The City. Don’t let this fool you however; The Museum of Docklands is one of our favourite museums here at Historic UK.
The museum focuses on the history of London’s river, port and people and starts its story during Roman times. As you walk through its three floors of history, the journey follows a chronological narrative all the way through to the most recent redevelopment of the Docklands.
The museum itself is housed in a Georgian sugar warehouse built in 1802, and is located just at the side of West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs in East London. Its location is made all the more dramatic by the fact that it’s built right next to the Canary Wharf development, making quite an interesting juxtaposition between the old and the new!
The museum features 12 galleries, featuring such exhibits as “Docklands at War”, “Warehouse of the World” and “London Sugar & Slavery”. It also includes a series of life sized, walkthrough replicas of how the docks used to look, feel and smell.
Finally, and best of all is that the Museum of London Docklands is now free!
Visit the website of the museum at www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands/
