Shadwell Area Guide

Shadwell is a working-class district in East London. However, it is far more affordable to live in this area of the city than any of the others. Since you’ll receive more space for your money, but there aren’t many things to do culturally or on the entertainment front. While this is true, Shadwell is also very well connected to the rest of the city via public transportation.

History of Shadwell

Bethnal Green is to the north, Limehouse to the east, Shadwell to the south, and Whitechapel to the west.

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of a port complex from the 3rd Century AD, demonstrating Shadwell’s connection to the oceans for even earlier than that.

Shadwell, in the beginning of the 17th century, had an estimated population of over 8,000, was a thriving seaport, and was home to rope-makers, tanneries, breweries, shipyards, and taverns, all of which still exist.

Shadwell Spa, which produced sulphurous waters and was used for therapeutic purposes and extracted for sea salts, was established in the middle of the 18th century.

Getting Around Shadwell

Shadwell is in close contact with other East London locals, especially when it comes to getting around town. These Overground and DLR stations provide easy access to Canary Wharf and the Bank of England, which are both financial centres in London.

The City: 2.1 miles / 15-25 minutes by car / 10-15 minutes by transit / 15-20 minutes by bike

Canary Wharf: 2.1 miles / 10-15 minutes by car / 15 minutes by transit / 30 minutes by foot / 10 minutes by bike

Southwark: 2.4 miles / 15-25 minutes by car / 20-25 minutes by transit / 15 minutes by bike

Westminster: 4.4 miles / 20-50 minutes by car / 30-35 minutes by transit / 30 minutes by bike

Shoreditch: 2.8 miles / 15-25 minutes by car / 25 minutes by transit / 15-20 minutes by bike

Open Spaces

Shadwell isn’t plentiful in parks, but residents do enjoy walks around King Edwad Memorial Park, through the Shadwell Basin and Wapping Woods. Thre’s also a great review of the riverfront on the canal.

Arts and recreation

Idea Store is a public library in Tower Hamlets that provides an educational environment. Here, you can take 800+ courses in all different types of interests in hobbies: 

• Business and ICT

• Cookery

• Fashion and Textiles

• Fitness, Health and Wellbeing

• Foreign Languages and Interpreting

• Performing Arts

• Photography

• Technical and DIY Skills

• Visual Arts

Entertainment and Attractions

Open-City Architect Tours – Open-city is best known for organising the annual Open House London festival, but London’s leading architecture educators also host walking, cycling, photography and boat tours all year round. Some – King’s Cross Renaissance, London Riverside – focus on London’s newest developments. Others – Square Mile, Hidden West End and Bloomsbury – include an historical angle.

Wilton’s Musical Hall –  It is reminiscent of the mid-1800s, when John Wilton opened his concert hall, the Mahogany Bar behind it, the neighbourhood music hall. This beautiful ancient structure owes its survival to the Methodist Church and John Betjeman, who helped preserve it over the previous century and a half.

This is the best spot to learn to sail, kayak, or powerboat in the middle of London. With complete courses for kayaking, canoeing, sailing, bell boats, dragon boats, and powerboats as well as non-water activities such as climbing and high ropes, the Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre provides a wide selection of activities for both children and adults. Enclosed water from the Basin and slipway, which presents optimal water conditions for beginners and experts, gives both safety and adventure for paddlers of all levels.

One of six churches built from 1714 to 1729 and financed by the Commission for Building Fifty New Churches, St George in the East on Cannon Street Road, is St. George’s in the East on Cannon Street Road, which is known as St. George’s in the East on Cannon Street Road. The inside of the church was destroyed by the fire, but the tower and wall remnants remained intact. A new flat was created under each corner tower, and a new church interior was constructed inside the existing walls for the active congregation. The original cemetery, St George’s Gardens, is found behind the cathedral.

Shopping in Shadwell

Watney Market is an outdoor market located in London, England. Watney Street connects the Shadwell DLR and Commercial Road stations and runs north, parallel to Commercial Road. The market is open every day, save for Christmas, between 8:30am and 6:00pm, with merchants selling a wide variety of goods. Permanent stores set up alongside the market stalls operate in the region.

Eating & Drinking

• The Shadwell Village Fish Shop
• Ego at The Wellington, Shadwell
• Aarti South Indian and Punjabi Restaurant
• The Olive Branch
• Yokohama
• The Bingley Arms

Nightlife

Shadwell isn’t a great place to go out at night, but there are many nightlife options in close proximity to East End neighbourhoods, and Shadwell is well-connected by transportation.

The annual Hop Festival is held in the hop garden in the town of Thatcham to honour the tradition of generations of East Enders, particularly Kent residents, who went to Kent’s hop gardens to harvest hops for the season. Historical images of local residents harvesting hops are included in booklets featuring Tower Hamlets Community Housing souvenirs. Old Hopper’s Brew was created with the locally-harvested Shadwell hops in 2009. Not only did it sell out, but it disappeared in just a month.

Schools

Both Bigland Green Primary School and Blue Gate Fields Elementary School are located in a small geographic area; in addition, Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School is also located nearby.

Local Authority

Shadwell falls under the local council of Tower Hamlets.

Broadband Internet

Shadwell has broadband speeds up to 100Mbps in most parts and up to 120Mbps in upgraded areas. Speeds can be as high as 100Mbps, depending upon location, provider and package.

Fun Fact About Shadwell

When searching for “shallow well” in Old English, you will be directed to Shadwell. During excavations conducted at this location, archaeologists discovered evidence of a Roman quarry that had been utilised as a cemetery, and a mausoleum tower had been constructed.