Royal Docks

Things to do at the Royal Docks

Many business visitors and event planners choose this area for its world-class conference centres, versatile spaces and outstanding hospitality. Explore the Royal Docks’ best venues, experiences, hotels and restaurants to host your next event.

Event venues

Excel London

Excel London is an award-winning convention and exhibition centre, hosting some 400 events and welcoming about four million visitors every year. Its 100,000 sq m of flexible event space includes London's International Convention Centre (ICC), which features the UK's largest auditorium (up to 7,000) and various stunning, multi-function conference suites and halls for events of all sizes.

City Hall

Located in Royal Victoria Dock, City Hall is the headquarters of the Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority. Formerly known as The Crystal, its striking glass building houses two bright event spaces available for hire. London’s Living Room features exceptional river views and a large open-plan design, with room for up to 200 delegates, while The Chamber auditorium can accommodate 140 guests (fixed tiered seating).

Tereza Joanne

Tereza Joanne is a floating event venue offering fantastic views, excellent catering services and flexible options for private hire. The vessel is permanently moored at Albert Island and can host a wide range of events, from product launches and receptions to gala dinners and themed parties. Catering can be tailored to your event, with bespoke menus specialising in English and Caribbean cuisines, and options ranging from buffets to top-deck barbecues.

Woolwich Works

Located on the river Thames, Woolwich Works is minutes away from Woolwich Arsenal station and London City Airport. The venue's Grade II-listed buildings offer a great choice for meetings, performances, rehearsals, conferences and more, with a range of configurations for events of up to 1,800.

Experiences

London Cable Car

Glide above the Thames aboard the London Cable Car and take in sweeping aerial views of London's skyline, as you travel from the Royal Docks to the Greenwich Peninsula. The flight takes about 10 minutes each way and is best enjoyed at sunset, with extended night flights after 7pm. Private cabin hire is available, accommodating up to 10 people per cabin. You can also book special experiences, with champagne, VIP fast track or the Glass Floor Experience.

Royal Docks Watersports

Up for a little outdoor adventure? Take part in a range of water activities for all abilities, from canoeing and kayaking to rowing and sailing, with Royal Docks Watersports. Owned by the Royal Albert Dock Trust, the centre boasts a 2,000-metre rowing course with seven racing lanes and regularly hosts sporting events. Perfect for incentive activities or corporate team building.

Immerse LDN

Discover world-class immersive experiences, exhibitions and original productions across TV, film, music, art and gaming at Immerse LDN, Excel London’s new purpose-built immersive event space located on its redeveloped waterfront. Immerse LDN also offers private hire and a range of corporate hospitality options for event organisers and exhibitors.

Millennium Mills walking trail

Located on the south side of Royal Victoria Dock, Millennium Mills is an iconic former industrial flour mill and one of the area’s most recognisable buildings. Step back in time to explore the historical and global connections of the Mills, which contributed to feeding the growing population of Greater London during the first decades of the 20th century. This free, seven-point walking trail begins in front of Excel, opposite the Mills, and can be accessed by scanning the QR codes with your smartphone.

Restaurants

Waterfront Street Kitchen & Bar

Tuck into delicious street food with a side helping of gorgeous riverside views at Waterfront Street Kitchen & Bar, the latest venue to open within the new Immerse LDN entertainment hub on Excel’s redeveloped waterfront. With its prime location and versatile spaces, it’s a great spot to host an event, from intimate gatherings of 25 guests to grand private events hosting up to 400.

The Windjammer

The Windjammer is a spacious riverside pub in Royal Wharf with a sunny outdoor terrace and plenty of dining space, boasting idyllic views across the Thames. For meetings and events, you can book semi-private areas or the upstairs mezzanine, which has its own private bar and can accommodate up to 100. Need more space? Hire the entire venue for up to 300 guests.

The Gun

Dine in style with stunning river views at The Gun. Serving refined pub classics, this venue offers a range of spaces for corporate events, business meetings and Christmas parties with capacities ranging from 16 to 190 people.

Fremantle Bar & Kitchen

Set within the Crown Plaza London Docklands hotel at Royal Victoria Dock, Fremantle Bar & Kitchen is an Australasian-inspired all-day restaurant and bar serving food packed with flavour in a bright, laidback setting. Enjoy brunch, after-work drinks or dinner in the open-plan restaurant or by the spacious bar, or book a space for a private event. From cocktail receptions to dining experiences, the venue can welcome up to 350 guests.

Hotels

Good Hotel London

Located at the historic Royal Victoria Dock, the floating Good Hotel London boasts 148 rooms and suites, a restaurant, private and communal meeting spaces, and a stunning rooftop bar overlooking the water, offering striking views of the London skyline. The rooftop terrace is a particularly impressive space to host an event and is available for semi-private or exclusive hire for up to 120 guests.

Aloft London Excel

If you’re after cutting-edge design, tech-savvy features and ultra-comfy beds, book a business stay at Aloft London Excel. Ideally located, with direct access to the Excel centre, the hotel features five state-of-the-art tactic meeting rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. After hours, meet and mingle over music and cocktails at the W XYZ Bar, or unwind at re:charge, which includes a gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room.

Crowne Plaza London Docklands

Perfect for conferences and special events, the 210-bedroom Crowne Plaza London Docklands also boasts a health club with heated pool, sauna, steam room and gym, a luxurious spa, and an Australasian-inspired all-day bar and restaurant. Event planners can choose from eight modern conference rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning views of the Royal Docks.

Novotel London Excel

Find a comfortable base at Novotel London Excel, featuring contemporary rooms, a restaurant overlooking the water, an on-site gym, sauna and steam room, as well as 12 fully equipped meeting rooms flooded with natural light.

Ibis London Excel Docklands

For an affordable stay close to the Excel centre, the ibis London Excel Docklands is an ideal choice for business travellers. The hotel boasts a prime waterside location, as well as modern rooms, a bar and a restaurant.

Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks

Ideally situated near Royal Docks, Canary Wharf and Greenwich, Holiday Inn Express London Royal Docks offers a perfect base for business and leisure travellers. Minutes away from Excel, London City Airport and the DLR for quick connections into central London. The hotel has a theatre-style meeting room with capacity for up to 40 guests.

DoubleTree by Hilton London Excel

Treat yourself to a suite with sweeping views of the Royal Docks at DoubleTree by Hilton London Excel. This spacious 287-bedroom hotel is ideally located with plenty of facilities on site, including the Salt Port Restaurant & Deli with waterfront views, the cosy Bidder & Co bar where a library snug is available for semi-private cocktail receptions, a fully equipped gym and two bright meeting rooms.

Moxy London Excel

For a stylish and affordable stay at Royal Albert Dock, check out the 164-room Moxy London Excel. Experience boutique on a budget, with communal areas filled with games including table football, simple yet stylish bedrooms and a 24/7 snacks bar. Draw in the night with a cocktail from the hotel chain’s hallmark Moxy Bar.

Holiday Inn Express London Excel

Holiday Inn Express London Excel is another top choice for a budget stay at Royal Albert Dock. As well as excellent transport links, the recently refurbished hotel boasts 204 bedrooms, an all-day restaurant and four meeting rooms, including the Royal Albert Suite that can host up to 60 people.

Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport

Located just a five-minute walk from London’s most central airport, Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport is ideal for business and leisure travellers alike. The hotel features 184 rooms with luxury Marriott bedding. Dining options include locally sourced cuisine at The Kitchen & Bar. Other amenities include an on-site gym and three meeting rooms for up to 50 delegates.

Travel information

How to get to the Royal Docks

Located in east London, the Royal Docks provide easy access for business travellers, event planners and corporate guests flying in from London City Airport. The area is well connected to other parts of London via the Elizabeth line, DLR, boat and cable car.

The Royal Docks are well served by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), with 11 DLR stations offering quick connections to Canary Wharf, the City and other central London locations. Key stations include Custom House, Royal Albert and London City Airport.

The Jubilee line is just a five-minute link away via Canning Town.

The Elizabeth line offers high-speed travel to Heathrow Airport, Paddington, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf. It links Custom House with Canary Wharf in only five minutes and Liverpool Street in 10 minutes.

Several London bus routes run through the Royal Docks, connecting them to central locations. Key routes include 147, 241, 300, 304, 325, 474 and 678.

Take the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers for a scenic route from central London to Royal Wharf Pier in about 40 minutes.

Travel times to and from the Royal Docks

• London City Airport: no travel time, as located within the Royal Docks.
• Heathrow Airport: 50 minutes via the Elizabeth line.
• Gatwick Airport: around one hour via the Elizabeth line and National Rail (one change at Farringdon).
• Canary Wharf: five minutes via the Elizabeth line from Custom House.
• London Bridge: 12 minutes via the Jubilee line from nearby Canning Town.
• King’s Cross St Pancras (Eurostar): 30 minutes via DLR and either Northern line (one change at Bank) or National Rail (one change at Stratford International).

Find more information about how to get around London as a business traveller in our business travel in London guide.

How we can help

As London’s official convention bureau, we help event professionals, meeting organisers and incentive planners unlock the city and create events to remember.

We can help you by providing:

• Free assistance: as a not-for-profit company, we don't charge for our services. Our experts share their entire wealth of knowledge and contacts with you for free.
• Impartial advice: we are independent and know London inside out. Our experts can help you discover venues, event agencies, unique experiences and activities for your event.
• Expert knowledge: we've supported thousands of delegates and helped them build world-class events. We've supported international congresses, conventions and conference teams to deliver inspiring events at scale.