The is full of intriguing stories – past and present – but sometimes they need a little help to be brought to life. We have created a series of walks around the area, unearthing the anecdotes and inspirations hiding under the surface.

Fill your day with a Royal Docks adventure Dive deep into local Explore the sounds and A different light community history music of the Royal Docks on our beloved

Custom House Community Walks are one of the best MSCTY x Royal Docks is a soundtrack to the Royal community art

ways to learn about the area’s hidden histories. Run by Docks, enabling you to experience the area in a brand Play and Place is an Custom House Bookshop, this is a true local experience new way by combining music with architecture and The Scan me! opportunity to look at some – previous walks have been to Woolwich Dockyard, and cultural heritage. These tracks, created by music and Or for more of the Royal Docks’ favourite a walk from and all the way to the sea (not all at architecture agency MSCTY alongside local musicians information and public artworks in a new once!). You’ll have to see what’s on the walking agenda and sound artists, are inspired by various spots around The architecture Why the Royal full maps of each light. Created by UP Projects for the day, but one of the most fascinating stories of the docks, and these places are now geo-tagged so people walk, head over to: that shaped and taking place in August, Docks looks the areas is the , which started its life can listen to the tracks for free. There’s also an audio royaldocks.london/ Play and Place sees poet as a giant flour operation and is now a much sought- walk connecting the music if you want to experience the way it does trails trails and playwright Inua Ellams after filming location, including Hollywood blockbusters: them all in turn (also available online). But even as you’re guide people through a set of some of the biggest scenes in Spider-Man: Far from Home lost in the sound, take a moment to look up at the Spaces of Silvertown One of the most planned- creative activities, inspired were filmed at the Millennium Mills. Connaught Crossing – many locals say the view from explores the changing for spaces in the world by Jessie Brennan’s artworks there, with such big skies, is their favourite. Where else architecture of the Royal is a real treat for those who Go the Distance, Custom in London can you get such an uninterrupted view Docks. Created by UP have a big-picture view House Is Our House and without having to climb a big hill? Projects, this August walking of the Royal Docks in the tour provides a boost of Take Your Place. The walk past, present and future. critical thinking about how (which you can join by booking In this walk, sculptor and architecture responds to online) will have ice-breakers, artist Eloise Hawser asks Lose yourself in audio socio-political changes – games and mini workshops questions about how building Take a walk along East that’s the theme for the walk aimed at getting to the heart roads and new rail lines has London’s open air gallery dramas with a local flavour by writer Owen Hatherley. He of how we build relationships, shaped what this area looks argues that the approach to and the meaning of play and like – not to mention the The Line, ’s open air gallery, passes right This Is Who We Are is a truly unique way to planning hasn’t always been place. Collaboration with choice to place the airport through the Royal Docks. Wander on, either north up experience the Royal Docks. Arts production hub coherent in Silvertown, with community groups in the here, as well as things we along the River Lea or south to Greenwich. One of our Arch 468 created this audio trail stretching the successive developments laid Royal Docks is at the heart of might not consider such favourite moments along The Line is Bird Boy (without length of the docks, with five audio dramas by on top of each other and not Brennan’s work. For example as sewer systems. Book a tail), the little statue by Laura Ford that stands curiously local writers that all take inspiration from the dock entirely joining up. Spaces Take Your Place is displayed via the website to join this right in the waters of . The Line, which environment. The stories focus on the history and of Silvertown will include across the walls of Royal walk by UP Projects, which is a registered charity, now has an audio component to it future of the Royal Docks, its links to the wider stories about local icons such Docks Adventure, developed takes place in August, where as well: a free app called Bloomberg Connects gives you world, as well as the experience of living here. It’s as the Tate & Lyle Sugars by the artist after talking with Hawser will share stories three choices for your walk along The Line. You could a good show: the stories have been professionally refinery and Brick Lane Music the people who use the sports from the docks’ history before Bring the family along delve deeper by listening to the artists themselves talk Discover stories from recorded with actors. The QR codes can all be found Hall, which despite the name centre – it’s a call to action. turning to the future. Special for a fun exploration about it, or you could focus on nature and local history with young locals on your way in Park – did you know the garden is in Silvertown; tag along to Saturday 14 August 2021 emphasis is placed on the interesting local anecdotes read by actor Bill Nighy. You has its own microclimate? We’ve been planting lots find out how this came to be. 2–5pm vast transformation that lies could even turn your walk into a wellbeing experience by of new trees there, and there are plans to make this ahead for Albert Island, which Saturday 7 August 2021 Wondering Wanders is a great choice to really get under the opting for one of the custom-made walking meditations. ARGH! Mateys! There are a lot of portholes around the park even better this year, including restoring the will have a new commercial 2–5pm skin of the Royal Docks and all its hidden stories, especially docks, and now they come with a layer of augmented reality. cafe. In the meantime, enjoy the sweeping views boatyard, marina, and a if you’re bringing children along. Brought to you by the Royal Created by researchers from UCL’s Connected Environments as you make your way towards the barriers for a modern shipyard built with Docks Team with Patchlarks and Lunes, Wondering Wanders lab, ARGH! Mateys is full of stories written by young people photo opportunity. sustainability at its core. comes with fun challenges to complete and interesting facts from local organisations including Fight for Peace, Youth – from the “Seeking the Sleeping Giant” walking tour, we Empowerment, West Silvertown Foundation and the Royal The Making Saturday 21 August 2021 learned that a live elephant was once brought by ship into Docks Learning & Activity Centre. Enjoy the stories on your Even if you’ve lived in the Royal Docks your 2–5pm Royal Victoria Dock! Insider tip: pick up a Brompton bike to walk, and then stop off for a hot cocoa or coffee at one of the Space walks enjoy your Wondering Wanders tour in style for the “Ride Royal Docks’ best cafes. We really like the new Perky Blenders whole life, there’s always something new and Book your place online for to the Heart of the Docks” route, which highlights the best x Goodvibes in Royal Victoria Dock, the Well Bean Co cafe in exciting to experience in this emerging part these August trails, available sights of this amazing and vast area, as you’ll want to be Royal Albert Wharf (they make their own chocolate right here online from October: See you in the able to cover a bit more ground. in the Royal Docks!), and Little Hudson Cafe in Silvertown. of London. Step outside and see for yourself. royaldocks.london/trails Royal Docks! Trails at a glance

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A1020 6 Royal Albert Dock Royal Victoria 4 Royal Albert Way Custom Park Cyprus House Prince ExCeL London Regent Gallions Emirates Royal Reach Royal Docks Albert 2 3 University of East London 2 Greenwich Silver Building Millennium Mills Pier 4 The O2 London Pontoon 4 City Airport Dock King Cable car George V West Silvertown 5 Tate & Lyle Albert Rd Emirates North

Thames Barrier

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Royal Wharf Pier Woolwich Ferry

To Woolwich & Woolwich Arsenal

Transport Scan me! See what’s happening next at:  The Line Or for more information www.royaldocks.london/ DLR and full maps of each walk, whats-on  Wondering Wanders Elizabeth line head over to: National rail royaldocks.london/trails Search for “YourRoyalDocks”  ARGH! Mateys Emirates Air Line on Twitter, Facebook River Bus and Instagram and use  This Is Who We Are Brompton Bike Hire #RoyalDocks to share your pictures and stories with us.

 MSCTY x Royal Docks Sign up to our newsletter on:  Custom House Community Walks www.royaldocks.london So many choices – but where to go?

20mins If you have 20 minutes, wander out past the Gallions Point Marina and listen to “He Comes to the River to Breathe”, on the This Is Who We Are walk.

60mins If you have an hour, rent a Brompton bicycle and loop around the western docks with the Wondering Wanders, from Gallions Reach to and back again.

hours + If you have all afternoon, make it 3a MSCTY x Royal Docks day: start with a slow meander across the Royal Victoria Dock Bridge and listen to “Passing Currents”. Loop around and take your pick – we especially like “Deep Time” which is intended for listening while moving through the foot tunnel. The Royal Docks is a place full of stories, discovery and exploration

For your next story, we’ve made this handy tear-off bookmark for you to colour in.

Post it on Instagram using the hashtag #yourroyaldocks – we’d love to see your creation!

See what’s happening next at: www.royaldocks.london/whats-on

Search for “YourRoyalDocks” on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #RoyalDocks to share your walks with us.

Sign up to our newsletter on: www.royaldocks.london