Lady’s Guide to Things to Do in Wapping, London

Today I want to bring you my guide to things to do in Wapping, London. This area is full of great restaurants, pubs, and history, not to mention stunning views across the Thames.

Wapping, London

Sometimes I feel like after living in London for so many years I should know the city intimately. But while there are some neighborhoods of which I consider myself a denizen, there are others in which I’ve embarrassingly never set foot.

Like Wapping. Over in east London near Tower Bridge, Whitechapel, and Spitalfields, Wapping is steeped in the history of the British Empire.

Wapping was formerly the home of docks where ships unloaded cargo from the farthest corners of the empire. Its gallows grew haunted with the hangings of thieves and criminals.

But the area is now an up-and-coming London neighborhood with waterfront restaurants and pubs. It also has lots of warehouse conversions popular with banker types working in the City of London and Canary Wharf.

Things to Do in Wapping

A friend of mine just moved into a flat near Wapping and keeps singing its praises. So much so that she convinces me and another friend that we need to spend a day exploring the east London neighborhood with her.

Always up for getting to know our city, we take the tube to Aldgate station and walk over to meet her. We’re ready to discover all the fun things to do in Wapping.

See the Original Harrods in Wapping

On the way, we pass under a railway bridge and my friend points out a nondescript shopfront on Cable Street. “See that?” she says, pointing to a bright red sign for a noodle bar. “That building housed the original Harrods.”

It’s hard to believe that the famous luxury department store in chi chi Knightsbridge started out in this skinny brick building in Wapping, but not as hard to believe as what we find next.

Go to Wilton’s Music Hall

Around the corner from the noodle bar is Wilton’s Music Hall, one of the most amazing discoveries I’ve ever made in London.

On a narrow alley fronted by a school basketball court, Wilton’s is the oldest surviving grand music hall in London (and the world, for that matter).

More than that, it is one of the coolest, funkiest places I’ve ever been to. Set over two floors, its warped wooden walls enclose a series of small cafes, bars, lounges, and libraries.

They’re all decorated in eclectic vintage style, right down to the bright yellow electric lights that spell out WILTON’S on the wall. I want this place to be my house, my local, and my favorite cafe all rolled into one.

We don’t get to see the interior of the actual music hall, but I can’t wait to return soon.

Walk Along the Canal in Wapping

Back outside, we continue our little walking tour of Wapping with a stroll down the Ornamental Canal.

It’s lined by pretty brick apartment blocks and overrun—literally—by people from the City and Canary Wharf jogging on their lunch breaks.

After a bend in the canal, we find ourselves face-to-face with two giant clipper ships. I have to smile. After over a decade in London, I never cease to be amazed by the awe-inspiring sights that lie around every random corner.

See Tobacco Dock

As it happens, we’ve come to Tobacco Dock. According to my friend, this historic area where ships used to come in from the Americas laden with its namesake product was converted into a shopping mall a few decades ago.

Sadly, nobody came to shop there, so it was converted into a conference and event space, which it remains today. Lots of festivals and other fun things take place here throughout the year, and it’s a great space for them.

Explore the Streets of Wapping

Down the road from Tobacco Dock is Wapping High Street. True to the neighborhood’s up-and-coming vibe, it features a mix of high and low-end shops and restaurants, my favorite of which is Cinnamon Coffee Shop.

Its exterior features a rainbow of brightly colored tables and chairs that stand in stark contrast to the brick wall behind them.

Nearby are big buildings like Gun Wharves and New Crane Wharf, warehouse conversions steeped in the history of empire and trade.

Between them are narrow passageways leading to the Thames, at the end of which are views of Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf in the distance.

Back along the road, centuries-old pubs and brand new restaurants sit side-by-side in a way that only cities with as much history as London can pull off.

One pub sports a noose and gallows hanging above the entrance in a nod to its grizzly history, while wooden crates with fresh vegetables front an achingly hip restaurant.

Eat at The Prospect of Whitby Pub

But my friend takes us to one of the most famous places in Wapping for lunch: The Prospect of Whitby pub. Built in 1520, it’s supposedly the oldest riverside pub in London.

Throughout the centuries, its patrons have included figures as famous as Samuel Pepys and Frank Sinatra, but today its clientele includes three American expats.

We settle into one of the many small rooms upstairs and enjoy a lunch of fish and chips while watching the boats go by on the Thames. It’s both a satiating and satisfying end to our walking tour of Wapping.

What to Do in Wapping

But given how much we’ve discovered in our short stint in the neighborhood, I have a feeling that we’ve only just begun to discover all the great things to do in Wapping.

In fact, even with another decade in London, I doubt I will have peeled back all the layers of history. But I’m in no rush, and now that I know how much Wapping has to offer, I’m certain this will be the first of many visits to the neighborhood.

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