Capital Ring section 15 page 1

Section 15 of 15 District Park to Woolwich

Section start: (Stansfield Road) Nearest station to start: Royal Albert (DLR)

Section finish:

Nearest station to finish: Woolwich Arsenal (Rail or DLR)

Section distance 3.5 miles plus 0.9 miles of station links Total = 4.4 miles (7.1 km)

Introduction This section is almost entirely on level tarmac paths and pavements. It Note explores the once very industrial area of Beckton, some former docks and Occasionally the path to travels alongside the River Thames to the foot tunnel at Woolwich. the second lock gates at the King George V dock The main Capital Ring route involves flights of steps, lock gates and an is closed by a locked gate. This happens isolated length of path that can seem daunting for someone walking alone. during maintenance Fortunately there are alternative routes to avoid these challenges. From work. To avoid an time to time the signposted route across the lock gates at King George V unwelcome surprise, call dock is closed by a locked gate for maintenance or other reasons. If so, it the Gallions Point will be necessary to use the alternative route along the A117. Marina: 0743 626 0458 or 0207 476 7054. Points of interest along this section include: the University of East Alternatively email: info@gallionspointmarin Campus, built over Cyprus station; Royal Albert dock – now an Olympic a.co.uk. If the route is standard rowing course; and King George V docks. Between them lies closed follow the the runway. alternative step-free route (see page 4). There are cafés and pubs at Cyprus and . (DLR) stations can be found along the route as well as bus stops.

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Capital Ring section 15 page 2

Walking directions From Royal Albert station on the Docklands Light Railway, the start of the walk is about a quarter of a mile away.

Follow the signs across a small patch of grass to the crossing to the left of the roundabout on the main road, visible from the station entrance (unless you’re the wrong side of a concrete pillar). Cross the Royal Albert Way dual-carriageway to walk up Stansfeld Road until you get to the start of the walk at Jake Russell Walk on the right in Beckton District Park.

Once on Jake Russell Walk you are in Beckton District Park. Here the walk shares its route with the Jubilee Greenway, whose signs are on the footpath but easily lost under fallen leaves in autumn.

Continue across the park and on the far side turn right between trees and continue past houses on the left to a path junction. Carry on to emerge between houses, and continue along Savage Gardens Road, beside New Beckton Park.

In 220 yards, opposite Oakes Close, turn right along a path across the park, past a children's playground and then left in front of some houses. Follow the path ahead past a primary school until it meets Manor Way. Turn right here.

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Capital Ring section 15 page 3

At the mini roundabout, turn right and cross over to the left on a Did you know? Cyprus station is named broad path between shrubs to the forecourt of Cyprus DLR station. after the nearby Victorian estate of Ahead is Royal Albert Dock, which was active from 1880 to 1981, and now Cyprus, itself named an international rowing course. The Capital Ring now follows the dockside. after the British Go over the bridge through the campus and student accommodation with colonisation of that Mediterranean island. its butterfly-shaped roofs. This is the station for the University of East At the waterfront there are great views along the dockside - of London City London Airport opposite, situated between two huge bodies of water, and of the Sir Steve Redgrave Bridge to the left.

Turn left to walk east down the waterfront towards the Bridge. Just before the bridge, which carries the A117 Woolwich Manor Way, turn left on a pathway bordering the UEL campus.

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Capital Ring section 15 page 4

Pass under the Docklands Light Railway fly-over, and turn right to cross Did you know? Gallions Reach is the road at Gallions Roundabout. Follow the roundabout anti-clockwise named after the and turn right into Atlantis Avenue, opposite Gallions Reach station. Galyons family who were prominent in the On the main route, as you walk down Atlantis Avenue, a tall radio mast area in the 14th century. comes into view which becomes your guide and goal. The word 'reach' here refers to an open Recommended route to Atlantis Avenue stretch of water along a There is a better but as yet unsigned alternative route to Atlantis Avenue river, but originally used to denote the distance which is recommended as the way to reach the panoramic view over the that could be sailed by Thames. This can be followed by continuing ahead under the Redgrave a vessel on one tack. Bridge and turning left into the Royal Quay estate. Bear right, then left into Did you know? Albert Basin Way. Past 'Galyons Bar and Restaurant' (the former Gallions The recently Hotel) turn left and then right into Gallions Road. After its left bend it redeveloped Gallions reaches Atlantis Avenue at traffic lights where you follow it to the right. Hotel – a listed building - used to serve Alternative route to the first set of lock gates passengers travelling This shorter route avoids road crossings and some bleak areas under via King George V dock and had its own railway development. Walk ahead under the Redgrave Bridge. Turn left and then station, the platform curve right on Basin Approach between the former Gallions Hotel (now a forming the main hotel bar and restaurant) and some apartments. Bear right back to the entrance. dockside. Turn left and then right to cross a footbridge. Walk round the Note about the step- former Lockside Kitchen café (now closed) to continue past the marina to free route There is one kerb on rejoin the main route at the the lock. the Steve Redgrave Alternative (step-free) route Bridge that would be The main route and two suggested variants all involve steps and lock gates difficult for a wheelchair user at the junction of with deep drops. To avoid the hazards and shorten the walk, follow the the bridge and a private main route to Gallions roundabout and cross at the lights. Near Gallions road used by heavy Reach DLR there are signs pointing towards the bridge. Follow the signs vehicles. This can be over the gently rising bridge, crossing Royal Albert Dock. After crossing the avoided by using the bridge, stay on Woolwich Manor Way. Cross Gallions Entrance Road, with other side of the bridge its barrier and security office. Carry on past the lock, taking the next left and crossing at the roundabout at the far down Fishguard Way. Carry on straight ahead through the plaza into end of the bridge, to Hartelpool Court, part of the Gallions Point Estate. At the end turn right to turn into Fishguard continue along the riverside rejoining the main route. Way.

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Capital Ring section 15 page 5

Walk ahead on Atlantis Avenue to the end of the road, going straight on at Did you know? Over to the right, on the the traffic light crossroads with Armada Way on the left and Gallions Road other side of the river on the right. Keep on towards the radio mast. Thames from the end of Atlantis Avenue, you Just before reaching the mast pass Magellan Boulevard and continue can see the high point ahead through the concrete bollards to reach the Thames at a paved area. of Shooter's Hill which is part of Section 1 of There is a panoramic view across to the former Royal Arsenal. To the left is the Capital Ring. Tripcock Ness. This was the site of the biggest loss of human life on the Thames when the Princess Alice collided and sank in 1878 with all of its 600 passengers. To the right there is a view of the with the towers of Canary Wharf beyond.

Turn right at the Thames past the radio mast onto the enclosed pathway. From here the Capital Ring is fully enclosed and fenced all the way to the lock gates, so it is easier to navigate. Did you know? The gigantic gates of It is narrow and somewhat overgrown and it passes some new apartment the King George V Lock blocks. At times the path here can feel rather isolated and a lone walker admitted the 36,644-ton Cunard liner RMS may feel uneasy. Mauretania in 1939. Measuring 790 feet long At the walk's end turn left in front of the first building, cross the lock gates, by 88 feet wide there and come out onto a small roadway. Follow the roadway ahead for about was just a whisker to 100 yards. Where the road turns sharp right, the Capital Ring turns sharp spare on all sides. left, along another fenced section, past areas cleared for development.

After another short walk along the Thames you then come across a Alternative route A gate at the end of the second, much larger set of lock gates at the entrance to the King George V Gallions Point Estate dock. Steps take you over a flood wall and you then cross over the lock can only be opened gates. On the far side turn right behind a brick building; go up steps and during daylight hours. If down the other side. Immediately after the steps do a U-turn beside the the button does not residential estate and walk towards the Thames. Take care - this turning is release the lock, follow the Capital Ring very easy to miss. ‘Beckton, avoiding locks' sign at the plaza Turning right after the building leads you into the new Gallions Point (after the first residential Estate. You walk alongside the river again. A few yards further on is a block) towards the main riverside plaza with benches. (It is from here, via Fishguard Way, that you road and turn left onto can reach Albert Road if the release for the lock on the gate at the end of Albert Road to pick up the estate is not working - see map on page 3.) the route again.

Passing the second of the slipways, you arrive at Royal Victoria Gardens.

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Capital Ring section 15 page 6

Walk through the park parallel with the river, exiting onto Pier Road.

Note that the end of the footpath along the wall is temporarily closed off during the building of another block of flats. You therefore need to enter Did you know? Pier Road about 50 yards further north. The Woolwich Foot Tunnel – and its sister at Greenwich – were Cross Pier Road with care and turn left along the road towards the round built to allow workers to building of the Woolwich Foot Tunnel, which opened in 1912. cross to the docks. Until then they had to use the To complete the whole Capital Ring, go down the 126 steps (or use the lift) lightermen ferries, and then walk a quarter of a mile under the river and back up 101 steps to the thus were dependent on the weather to arrive on start of section one - there is a lift on the south side too. Alternatively, take time. The area now the free ferry across the river which you reach by continuing to walk along known as North the road leading to the ferry pier. Woolwich was not residential at that time, To complete the Capital Ring without crossing the River Thames, follow so many workers lived across the river. Albert Road and Pier Road round to King George V DLR station.

You can download a certificate to show that you have completed the Capital Ring from the Transport for London web site (https://tfl.gov.uk/ modes/walking/capital-ring).

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