What's it like living in the Docklands?

What is the Docklands like to live in, particularly the areas around Wapping, Rotherhithe, Bermondsey, and Canada Water?  What is the nightlife like?  How reliable is the DLR?  Are there any high streets nearby with pubs, supermarkets, shops, etc?  What about parks?

Thanks.

Hi Nick,

My experience from four or so years ago is that the Canary Wharf area of Docklands is an up-and-coming area - new build flats for a reasonable price, etc. I flat-hunted out there, but ended up living around St. John's Wood/Swiss Cottage. Canary Wharf is mainly a commerce area. Things may be changing, but at the time, the area was a very quiet place in the evenings. It's buzzing during the day, but it turns into a ghost town once all the workers have left. If you're looking for activity right outside of your doorstep, you won't find it there. The DLR is as reliable as the rest of the Tube, in my opinion. The Jubilee line and the East London line provide reliable Underground access to the rest of the city.

You asked specifically about Wapping, Rotherhithe, Bermondsey. and Canada Water. These areas are recovering from years of neglect after the docks closed in the '60s-'80s and they have had reputations as rough areas. Things are changing, though, and I wouldn't rule it out without having a look first. They are more residential and have more activity than Canary Wharf. Southwark Park is located here. The Docklands article on Wikipedia is good for getting some perspective on the area.

Yeah, I have a friend who used to live in Canada Water. It was nice, but there's a distinct lack of shops or "community". I think it's great if you work in Docklands and are one of these 100 hour work week people.

To be picky - Bermondsey isn't really the Docklands and has a Tube station rather than a DLR (so perhaps that could be a positive for you?).  Canada Water tube is close to a giant shopping centre so you'd be set for shops there!  A lot of that area is undergoing regeneration due to the new East London line, so a lot will be changing.

And I definitely wouldn't class Wapping with the rest...it's gorgeous and correspondingly expensive!

agree with geeta, wapping is definitely not the same as it's surroundings.  we are in the process of moving back there, and have found that rents there have NOT gone down in the 2 years that we went away, so it is still very expensive along the river.  along wapping high street, life is very family oriented.  there is an excellent butcher, several corner shops, a green grocers,  pharmacy, chinese, curry house, chippy,  italian deli, and several upscale restaurants.  no clubs though. 

Thanks guys!  Wapping sounds interesting and I especially like the warehouse conversions around the area. I'm just worried that being a single guy in his late 20's might find it a little too family-friendly.
What is the local transport like?  Will the Overground run as frequent as the Underground?  Does the neighborhood have a supermarket within walking distance?

I taught in Canada Water last year, and from what I could tell it was lovely. There were loads of shops (there is a big shopping center right by the station - Surrey Quays). As for the nightlife, I'm afraid I don't know. It seems like a quieter area. I loved it there! Even tried to convince hubby that's where we should live.

Yes, I did have a single male friend who moved there from New York that found it a bit quiet for his tastes. He eventually moved to Pimlico, I think.

There is a great Waitrose in St. Katherine's Dock that you shop at.

Transport can be a bit of a problem as the Wapping Tube stop closed a few years ago as part of the works to connect it to the Overground. They expect this to be done next summer. There are buses and other District line and DLR stops (Tower Hill, Shadwell) are not terribly far.

What about Limehouse?  What is the area like?