[1] Turn left out of the centre and walk along Westferry Road. Head under the footbridge and then when you are next to the tall Bowsprit Point tower cross using the zebra crossing. Sir John McDougall Gardens are just here on your right. Continue along Westferry Road, crossing several side streets. There are several newsagents along the road if you wish to buy drinks or snacks for the walk.
(A) After a short distance you will come to Westferry print works on the left where several newspapers including the Daily Express are printed. Past the print works is the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre (www.dswc.org) which offers sailing courses. Opposite is the former entrance to the Millwall Dock, which has now been filled in but there is a still a slipway to the River Thames.
[2] Continue along Westferry Road. Dockers Tanner Road opposite is named after the dock worker’s fight to be paid sixpence (a “tanner”) an hour. A little further along is The Space arts centre (www.space.org.uk) and Hubbub Café and Bar, housed in a former chapel built in 1859 to serve the large number of Scottish dock workers employed in the area.
[3] When you reach Masthouse Terrace turn right, then left at the T-junction and right into Ferguson Close. Go through the building in front of you to reach the riverside walkway and turn left. There are plenty of benches along the walkway so you can pause for a moment to admire the view. The Gherkin is to your right and straight across the river is Convoys Wharf, first developed in 1513 by Henry VIII to build vessels for the Royal Navy and now the site of a proposed housing development. You may see river traffic such as one of the few remainng Thames sailing barges characterised by their reddish-brown sails.
The River walkway forms part of the Thames Path that runs from the source in Gloucestershire to the Thames Barrier nearby. The Thames is home to a multitude of wildlife and although the suspended sediment makes it appear dirty, it is one of the cleanest rivers in Europe and home to over 100 species of fish, including salmon. Along this stretch of the path you can see the remains of the slipway that launched the SS Great Eastern, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It was the largest ship in the world when it was launched in 1858 and could carry 4,000 passengers around the world without refuelling.
[4] Pass Burrell’s Wharf, with a tall chimney in the middle of the complex, walking between the black bollards on your left and the river railings on your right to avoid the traffic. Take the next left at the end of the Burrell’s Wharf into Rainbow Avenue - note there is no sign. At the T-junction, turn right then immediately left into Maconochie Road then left on to Westferry Road Cross Westferry Road when you reach the zebra crossing, retrace your steps to head next left into Harbinger Road.
[5] Turn first right into Hesperus Crescent and then head right down the second cul-de-sac. This area consists of housing built in the 1920-30s for returning World War One veterans. Bear left to follow the pathway by house number 83 at the end of the cul-de-sac Turn left into Chapelhouse Street. Follow the pavement left into Thermopylae Gate and keep around this as the road bends right.
[6] When you reach Spindrift Avenue cross using the zebra crossing. Once across head left, cross Undine Road and turn immediately right through staggered railings (signed to South Quay DLR). When you reach the water turn right .to walk alongside the wharf. Swans nest on the tern raft in the dock and you may see herons. Straight ahead are the buildings of Canary Wharf. When you reach the main Millwall Outer Dock, head to the right walking with the water on your left. Moored in the dock are several Dutch barges now converted to houseboats.
[7] Go left around El Faro restaurant; turn left into Pepper Street and cross the dock at Glengall Bridge West. Carry on straight ahead along Pepper Street.
Carefully cross Millharbour and then go through the brick arch to head along the right hand pavement of Tiller Road. Turn right into Alpha Grove and then shortly afterwards left into Mellish Street.
[8] Follow Mellish Street to the junction with Westferry Road, where there is a small railed garden. Turn right along Westferry Road to return to the centre.