Bow Creek Ecology Park and East India Dock Basin

Bow Creek Ecology Park, Bidder Street, London E16 4ST

East India Dock Basin, Orchard Place, London E14 9QS

July - August: 08:00 - 21:00

September - October: 08:00 - 19:30

November - March: 08:00 - 17:00

April - June: 08:00 - 19:30

Down in the most southern point in the park you will find these two hidden gems.

info@leevalleypark.org.uk

03000 030 610

Facilities

What 3 Words

Bow Creek: ///famed.expose.spins | East India Dock Basin: ///crop.rear.hood

How to get here

You can easily plan your journey to the site using Google maps – click on the site in the map to discover more.

We’re within London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone. Find out more about ULEZ >

Car parking

There's no car parking at these sites. The closest train stations are Canning Town and East India Station.

Bow Creek Ecology Park

Originally, Bow Creek was an Osier bed, but was turned into an iron works in 1846. This industrial site had since been reclaimed by nature, following the closure of the iron works in 1912 and its subsequent acquisition by the London Docklands Development Corporation, and is now a haven for wildlife in an urban environment. Bow Creek has something to offer all year round, and has won the prestigious Green Flag Park Award for several years running

East India Dock Basin

Near to Canary Wharf and just across the river from the O2 Arena, sits the old East India Dock Basin. Originally trading in tea, spices, indigo, and silk, the docks played a key role in the Second World War as a site for constructing Mulberry harbors, which were used by the Allies during the D-Day landings in France. The dock has now been transformed into a wildlife sanctuary, supporting a range of birdlife.

Picnic spots

Both Bow Creek and East India Dock have benches where you can sit for a picnic, just make sure to take your litter home with you!

Walking running cycling routes

The Lee Valley Walk starts at East India Dock and passes up the side of Bow Creek, before continuing to Three Mills, the next most southern site, and then continues up through the Lee Valley.

Bird hides

East India Dock Basin has two bird hides overlooking the basin, from which you can watch birds, such as teal, shelduck, and herons, swimming and feeding in the water.

Things to do near by

Just across the river there is the O2 where you can catch a gig or just go shopping. Alternatively, Canary Wharf is close by where you can also do some shopping. Around this area there is also Mudchute farm. There is also Victoria Dock close by where you can go swimming.

Toilets

The closest public toilets are in Canning Town Bus Station.

Things near by

Wildlife watching

Lee Valley Regional Park is a haven for wildlife with different species around every corner

Lee Valley VeloPark

Lap the track and soak up the atmosphere of this London 2012 venue

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

A hub of culture, art, sport and nature in east London

Spring

Kingfishers and Sand Martins in the river next to Bow Creek. Butterflies and dragonflies flying around the pond on site. East India Dock is also home to a variety of dragonflies and damselflies which can be seen skimming over the water.

Summer

Terns nesting on the Tern rafts at East India Dock. You can also see dragonflies skimming along the water’s edge. At Bow Creek you can see Cetti’s Warblers which are present all year round, but are particularly loud in the summer when the males are defending their territories.