Description
This route is more direct at the Canary Wharf end than the original published route. It allows for more off-road walking through the docklands and in the main avoids large amounts of main road. It leaves Canary Wharf Station and having gone a short distance along South Colonnade it turns to cross the footbridge to West India Quay. It passes many historic buildings and features on its route in this area including the Docklands Museum. It continues through Poplar, passing through the historic Poplar Recreation Ground to meet the Limehouse Cut canal. Walkers, especially those with children, should note that this stretch is a relatively narrow towpath with an unprotected drop to the water. The canal access on this route uses the steps at Balladier Walk instead of Morris Road on the original Slow Ways route, because they are far less steep and have decent hand rails. There is no alternative to the steps in this area for those who need level access. This section of the route can be muddy with lots of puddles especially after rain and good footwear is recommended. Following the canal eventually the towpath passes along a floating pontoon to the attractive Bow Locks area and Three Mills. It continues along the Three Mills Walled River to meet Stratford High Street. It continues along here a short distance before turning off and carrying on through the side streets of Stratford and a footbridge (ramped on both sides) to the station
This route is more direct at the Canary Wharf end than the original published route. It allows for more off-road walking through the docklands and in the main avoids large amounts of main road. It leaves Canary Wharf Station and having gone a short distance along South Colonnade it turns to cross the footbridge to West India Quay. It passes many historic buildings and features on its route in this area including the Docklands Museum. It continues through Poplar, passing through the historic Poplar Recreation Ground to meet the Limehouse Cut canal. Walkers, especially those with children, should note that this stretch is a relatively narrow towpath with an unprotected drop to the water. The canal access on this route uses the steps at Balladier Walk instead of Morris Road on the original Slow Ways route, because they are far less steep and have decent hand rails. There is no alternative to the steps in this area for those who need level access. This section of the route can be muddy with lots of puddles especially after rain and good footwear is recommended. Following the canal eventually the towpath passes along a floating pontoon to the attractive Bow Locks area and Three Mills. It continues along the Three Mills Walled River to meet Stratford High Street. It continues along here a short distance before turning off and carrying on through the side streets of Stratford and a footbridge (ramped on both sides) to the station
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
Photos for Canstr two
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 12
Surveys
What is this route like?
Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.
| Grade 2X based on 1 surveys | Sign up or log in to survey this route. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Note | ||
| Grade 2: Mostly smooth and compacted surfaces, but there may be some loose gravel, muddy patches or cobbles. Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users. |
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys. | ||
| Full grading description | |||
Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.
Survey Photos
Facilities
Facilities in the middle third of this route.
Challenges
Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.
Obstacles
Obstacles on this route.
Accessibility
Is this route step and stile free?
Measurements
Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.
The narrowest part of the path is 110.0cm (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking East 20.0% (1)
The steepest uphill gradient walking West 20.0% (1)
The steepest camber gradient across the path 1.0% (1)
How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unsigned (1)
Successfully completed
We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.
Recommended by an expert
We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.
Terrain
We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.
25.0% of the route is on roads (1)
65.0% of the route is lit at night (1)
80.0% of the route is paved (1)
5.0% of the route is muddy (1)
There is no data on rough ground
There is no data on long grass
Report a problem with this data
1 surveys
Information from verified surveys.
Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Canary Wharf
Grid Ref
TQ3752480161
Lat / Lon
51.50366° / -0.01993°
Easting / Northing
537,524E / 180,161N
What3Words
opens.body.stove
Stratford
Grid Ref
TQ3859784370
Lat / Lon
51.54122° / -0.00282°
Easting / Northing
538,597E / 184,370N
What3Words
lively.dices.only
| Canary Wharf | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ3752480161 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.50366° / -0.01993° |
| Easting / Northing | 537,524E / 180,161N |
| What3Words | opens.body.stove |
| Stratford | |
|---|---|
| Grid Ref | TQ3859784370 |
| Lat / Lon | 51.54122° / -0.00282° |
| Easting / Northing | 538,597E / 184,370N |
| What3Words | lively.dices.only |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
Tom
05 Feb 2024An enjoyable walk that takes in some interesting parts of Poplar and long sections of canal. It's interesting to see the transition from the built up business district of Canary Wharf to the more residential sections through Poplar. If you're there at the right time, the route passes very close to Chrisp Street Market which is worth a look.
The route passes briefly through Poplar Recreation Ground, which may be closed after dark. It would be easy enough to continue down Hale Street to East India Dock Road if this were the case.
Small sections of the route are cobbled (Canary Wharf and Bow Locks). Canary Wharf, Poplar, and Stratford all have dropped kerbs and ramps. In Canary Wharf, there are lifts next to the stairs. The main access issues may be along the canal. The route involves stairs to reach the canal side, and more gentle stairs at the Bow Locks. Bikes do go whizzing down the canal path, and it got pretty dark there at the time I was walking. Reading other reviews, I got lucky with the path; it's a grit and mud path, and I can imagine there being big puddles after rain. As the canal is such a big part of the route, there's no obvious way to re-route around this.
Daisy C
07 Oct 2023V good. Love the waterside parts. But beware puddles the full width of tow path in wet weather.
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Strider
19 Jan 2023I walked from Canary Wharf to Stratford on a cold winter evening.
This is a superb walk starting amongst skyscrapers and docks. Modern and old buildings contrast with each other. Through Poplar with very varied housing, old civic buildings, and a park full of history. There's an interesting feature around each bend. Steps down to the canal. More history, and the natural world is seen, reeds and wild fowl. There were shallow frozen puddles but not enough to put off joggers and walkers. A short walk through Stratford high street then along a back street to the station. Lots of pubs, cafes, and shops along the way and at each end. Museums and attractions too.
Cobbles, steps, and a steep bridge (20%) make this otherwise flat and wide route unsuitable for wheels. Much of the route is not lit and probably unsafe in the dark given the proximity to deep water.
This walk is a dream for historians and for photographers. Statues, art works, interesting places and commemorative memorials are plenty, a surprise around every corner. The varied buildings are geometric and the late evening light picked them out well. One of my favourite urban walks.
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Daisy C
31 Jul 2023For an urban walk this is not a great choice for a rainy day. The rain was steady and the puddles on the canal towpath were just too much for me. Very frequent, often very wide and fairly deep. To keep my feet dry I often had to jump across or leapfrog via a shoe-wide strip next to wall or water. After a couple of times with no wall-side option strip I realised it just wasn't my day for this walk. I did enjoy the route up to that point, and had been particularly looking forward to the canal section.
Sorry to jump on your review Strider. I only walked a third of the route so a review of my own didn't feel appropriate. -
Strider
31 Jul 2023This is useful to know if you want to walk this route, and why 3 reviews are needed for a snail.
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