[1] Turn left out of main entrance of Anchorage House, opposite Capstan House.  At the corner of Capstan House on the right, head diagonally right towards the East India DLR. Ascend the steps towards the station in order to cross the main road.  (Lift on left). Cross the ticket hall and descend the steps signed to Trinity Buoy Wharf. (Lifts – You can use either.)

[2] At the bottom, turn right and cross the road towards Budgens supermarket. Continue straight ahead up a slight slope, crossing road (Newport Avenue), to reach the River Thames. Turn left at the black railings and follow the river path past the Virginia Settlers’ Memorial. Across the river, there are views of the “O2″ and Anthony Gormley’s sculpture “Quantum Cloud” (at pier)

(A) The O2 (Millennium) Dome – Built on a former gasworks site at North Greenwich, the Dome, designed by Richard Rogers, housed a large scale exhibition and show to celebrate the Millenium. Empty for 6 years afterwards, it was redeveloped as the O2, a major events venue. Under its roof is an indoor arena, music club, cinema, exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants.

(B) “Quantum Cloud” is a 30 metre high  elliptical cloud sculpture.  It is the work of “Angel of the North” sculptor, Antony Gormley, and is formed from steel sections which diffuse at the edges and condense into a 20 metre high human body form at the centre. At the time of its construction it was the tallest sculpture in the UK.

[3] Go straight through the gate into East India Dock Basin (opening times – daylight hours). Follow the railings round to the left then cross the lock using the first of the pedestrian bridges mounted on the lock gates. Bear left (information board) up the steps or ramp and follow the chain link fence around East India Dock Basin.

(C) East India Dock Basin is the last remaining section of the once grand East India Docks, famous for transporting spices from the Far East in the 1880s. It includes an area of salt marsh which is unique in this stretch of the Thames. It is used as a bird sanctuary, and has an information board that lists all the species that you might see, including black redstarts and kingfishers.

At the far right corner of the dock, (information board) head diagonally to the right, away from the water, across an open area towards broad steps leading down to a gate (slope on right). The Salome Gate was designed by Anthony Caro, and is designed to reflect the area’s history. (Information board to left, on far side of gate.)

[4] For a shorter walk, instead of turning right onto Orchard Place, cross the road to pass under the road bridge ahead to marvel at the “living wall” on the building and continue from paragraph (6).   Otherwise turn right on to Orchard Place and follow the road as it bends to the left.

[5] The sign for Trinity Buoy Wharf is directly ahead at the end of Orchard Place. Enter through the main gate,   Trinity Buoy Wharf is open to the public, but it is a working environment with moving vehicles in all areas, so care is needed as you explore the site, as there is no pavement.

(D) Trinity Buoy Wharf stands at the meeting of the River Lea and the River Thames. From 1803 to 1988 Trinity Buoy Wharf was owned by Trinity House who used it for manufacturing buoys and docking lightships.  It has the only lighthouse in London (now defunct) which was used for experiments and for training lighthouse keepers. In 1863 Michael Faraday carried out experiments there. It closed in1988, but reopened in 1996 as a centre for the arts and creative industries. Some of the buildings are open to the public at various times, and events such as concerts and exhibitions are also held there. Much of the new accommodation on the site has been fashioned from old shipping containers. A free booklet describing the history of the site is available at the Visitor Centre which is open at weekends, 10am-4pm, and periodically during the week.

Walk towards the river and see the Thames Clipper Pier and the twin white humps of the David Beckham Football Academy opposite. Leave Trinity Buoy Wharf through the main entrance and walk back along Orchard Place, following the bend to the right to the Salome Gate. Opposite the gate, cross the road to pass under the road bridge ahead to marvel at the “living wall” on the building.

[6] Retrace your steps under the bridge, cross back across the road and turn right up the slope, taking care not to walk in the cycle path. Continue along the pavement when you join the main road. There are good views of East India Dock Basin on the left.

[7] Walk under the DLR bridge and turn left at the large roundabout following signs to East India DLR station. Cross the road just before mini roundabout, walking underneath the elevated section of the DLR. Follow line of railway to the station.  Ascend the steps to the ticket hall (or use either lift). Cross diagonally to reach the pedestrian bridge and at end go down steps (or use lift) and follow the signs back towards Anchorage House.

Accessibility.

This is a flat route along pavements and paved paths, although the pavements and road between Salome Gate and and Trinity Buoy Wharf are cracked in places and the pavements narrow. The shorter option avoids this section.

The route requires the crossing of the Docklands Light Railway at East India Dock.  Lifts are available at each end of the bridge. In the event of the lifts being out of action, a longer alternative route (see map) would be to go along Saffron Avenue and turn right at the main road towards roundabout, crossing the busy Aspen Way at pedestrian lights. Take the second right off the roundabout under the railway and then turn left alongside railway to join route at East India Dock station. [2]  Retrace your route from roundabout [7] on the return leg