[1] Leave the Practice and cross Westferry Road with care. Take Cuba Street towards the River Thames and when you reach the river, turn left, along the waterfront.
[2] You are walking along a section that gave the name to Millwall.
(A) Imagine a row of windmills along this embankment. Hence the name Millwall.
Continue for some time, alongside the river, forking slightly right at road, until you come to large park. Turn left at Domed Shelter and go up walkway ramp, to cross main road (Westferry Road) and come out at estate shops. Turn right at shops and shortly left. After playground, turn right and go straight on into Malabar Street.
[3] Walk ahead to Alpha Grove, cross to far side and turn left along Alpha Grove. Just before the corner, turn right though metal railings onto a path, alongside a small playground and continue straight on along the service road past the orange flats. At the road, (Byng Street), cross and then turn right. At the junction with Mastmaker Road, turn left. Cross Emcor House service road and turn right at main road (Marsh Wall), by the conical structure. At the Audi dealership, if traffic permits, turn left and cross into Admirals Way, by the Hilton Hotel. (Alternatively continue for some 50 metres to use pedestrian lights and return on far side.) Go along Admirals Way to the West India Docks waterfront and then turn left towards the footbridge. Cross the footbridge heading towards Tower and Winter Gardens.
(B) The West India Docks opened in 1802 and closed in 1980. Redevelopment effectively started 1987 with the signing of a development agreement for Canary Wharf. It is now a major financial centre and provides employment for some 100,000 people. Approximately two-thirds of the development is in the original dock water.
(C) The 244 metre high, 50 storey tower, One Canada Square, was completed in 1990 and was joined in 2002, by the 42 storey HSBC and 43 storey Citibank. It was the UK’s first skyscraper and, at one time, the tallest building in Europe. It has 3,960 windows and 4,388 steps. The lifts take 40 seconds to travel from the lobby to the 50th floor!
(D) The rectangular shaped, West Winter Garden, by the bridge, serves as the main thoroughfare to the Jubilee Line and retail mall, and has a planted oasis of bamboo trees. The East Winter Garden, with a 27 metre high, vaulted glass roof, hosts exhibitions, receptions and public events.
[4] At the end of the footbridge, go down the steps (or use the lift). Turn right along the quayside and pass the East Winter Garden and after a nursery, turn left, using stairs or the zig-zag ramps, to climb up and continue straight on, along Upper Bank Street. At the pedestrian lights, cross the road and go left and then right, into Jubilee Park.
(E) The six acre Jubilee Park includes a water feature of 22 limestone clad pools. To construct this park, some 40,000 tonnes of soil were imported from Kent and 166 13-metre tall Redwood Trees from Germany.
[5] Follow the path alongside pools and fountains, past the entrance to the shopping mall and continue pass further fountains, to finally leave the park and come out by the award winning Canary Wharf Underground Station. On your right note the Six Clocks.
(F) The Six Clocks (designer Konstantin Gricic) mark the entrance to the main retail mall (with toilets), which runs east-west under One Canada Wharf. There are over 200 shops in the various retail malls below the streets, towers and parks.
Continue straight on through many doors, for a step-free route to the Northern waterfront and Docklands museum.
[6] Facing dockside, fork left and then go along Bank Street and Heron Quay, with water on your right, Go under the railway, cross the bridge and shortly note on your right, across water, steps up to Cabot Squares and the main spine road between the north and south docks. Cross to the left hand side and just before security, at The Colourworks Printing Company, turn left for another section of the docks. Turn right and follow path alongside dock, past The Heron Pub to come out at main road, Marsh Wall. Turn right and head for pedestrian lights.
[7] Cross Marsh Wall and, turn back towards the roundabout. Bear left for information board and a view of the rather unusual Traffic Light Tree (Designer Pierre Vivant 1997) in the middle of the roundabout. Continue going left, to take Westferry Road and return to the Practice.