St. Catherine's Dock is certainly worth a leisurely walk round. It was originally built in 1828 on the site of an old hospital of the same name which dates from around Tudor times.

On a warm sunny day it makes for a very pleasant stroll.

This shows a small lifting bascule bridge which permits pedestrians to cross the entrance to one of the dock basins. You can see the 'Gherkin' peeping over the tops of the building on the left.

This shows the footbridge across the access lock which is how the boats get in from, and out to, the Thames. The lock gates are to the left of, and just below, the bridge. Showing just above the right-hand end of the bridge is a large metal ring; this is a sundial and is more easily seen in the larger picture.

Seen through Tower Bridge is the dome shaped building of the County Hall.

The access lock seen from the footbridge at its outer end. This is a large lock to accommodate some of the larger vessels moored within St. Catherine's Dock.

If you walk the short distance east from St. Catherine's Dock along St. Catherine's Way you will soon arrive at Wapping.

Wapping is situated between the north bank of the River Thames and the ancient thoroughfare simply called The Highway. Wapping's proximity to the river has given it a strong maritime character, which it retains through its riverside public houses and steps, such as the Prospect of Whitby and Wapping Stairs. These steps in various places give access, at low tide, to the Thames foreshore.