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Limehouse Basin, Limehouse, Tower Hamlets, London

We visited Limehouse Basin
as part of our summer cruise in June 2008

The Basin was originally opened in 1820 and known as the Regent's Canal Dock, built by the Regent's Canal Company and used by vessels and lighters to offload their cargoes into canal barges, for onward transport along the Regent's Canal to the north. It wasn't until the mid 19th century the dock and the canal it serviced were a commercial success, mainly for the supply of coal to the gasworks and latterly electricity generating stations adjacent to the canal.

Limehouse Basin, as it is now known, was the principal entrance to the English canal system. The area around the basin used to be a hive of activity and became the temporary home to sailors from around the world. Many Chinese sailors settled here, creating a little China Town here, where their restaurants, gambling and opium dens attracted a bad reputation but the area is now a high density residential area.

If you look to the north of the basin The Docklands Light Railway can be seen on a viaduct, behind four nautically themed modern apartment blocks, originally built for the London and Blackwall Railway.

Behind one of the viaduct arches is an octagonal tower, now used as a viewing platform, an 1896 hydraulic accumulator that regulated the hydraulic pressure to the extensive network of hydraulic mains around the basin supplying the original coal-handling machinery.

The Limehouse Cut leaves the basin to the east connecting the Thames to the River Lee Navigation at Bow Locks.

With the growth of the railways the canal's importance waned. There is a BW owned Limehouse Marina for paying customers but there are 24hour visitor moorings along the east wall enough for a dozen or so tidily moored boats.

A few boats each day leave the Limehouse Basin through the sea locks, many head upstream to pass under the Tower Bridge, pass by the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, the British Airways London Eye, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament and more.

There is a requirement for narrowboats and other craft over 45ft to have a licensed VHF radio and operator on board before entering the river locks from Limehouse Basin.

The Cruising Association has a purpose-built headquarters at Limehouse Basin and offers restaurant, bar and overnight accommodation.