property, homes and houses for sale in Wapping

One of London's greatest regeneration success stories, Wapping by the river is buzzing with style.

Living in Wapping

Pronounced as 'Wopping' and controlled by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Wapping lies on the northern bank of the River Thames between Tower Bridge and the entrance to the Rotherhithe Tunnel.

Wapping was the first Docklands area to become part of the City of London and almost thirty years on it is rich in Georgian and Victorian houses, luxury warehouse conversions and apartment blocks.

To the west of Wapping is St Katharine's Dock, a pretty marina overlooked by high-priced flats and penthouses. To the east is Shadwell Basin which still gives a hint of Wapping's maritime history, although much has been swept away by attractive redevelopment.

To get a real sense of history in Wapping there are apartments in the former Ivory House and striking, Georgian merchant houses lining Wapping High Street.

The Ornamental Canal leads to Waterman Quay where new developments are also highly sought-after. Further north is Rupert Murdoch's News International, known as 'Fortress Wapping' during the 1980s.

To complement Wapping's many luxury houses and apartments are private gyms and swimming pools, a sports centre and public gardens, pubs and restaurants, and well-supported local shops on Wapping High Street.

But for serious shopping and entertainment, most residents head to neighbouring Canary Wharf or London's West End.

Transport

Wapping tube station is by the river and is on the East London Line which is closed for extension work until 2010. Once it is completed, Wapping will be one stop from Canada Water which lies on the Jubilee Line. Currently, the route is served by buses.

Shadwell tube station is on Cable Street to the north of Wapping and is served by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) connecting to Bank and Cannon Street, and stations to Beckton, London City Airport, Canary Wharf, Lewisham and Stratford.

For information regarding transport serving London please visit http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx

For details of train services throughout the UK please visit http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

By car, Rotherhithe Tunnel to the east of Wapping and London Bridge to the west will take you south of the river.

History and culture

The Luftwaffe had Wapping in its sights during the Blitz in 1940, and post-war decline in shipping left Wapping in a very sorry state by the early 1980s when the London Docklands Development Corporation began redevelopment.

In the mid 1980s, Rupert Murdoch's News International built a new printing and publishing works which became the scene of violent protests from print unions objecting to new technology and new work practices.

News International has moved the print works to regional presses and the sizeable plot is to be redeveloped.

For current information regarding Wapping please visit http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/