Island Gardens

Island Gardens is the southern terminus of one DLR branch, sitting at the very tip of the Isle of Dogs with one of the most photographed views in London -a direct sightline across the Thames to the Old Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark at Greenwich. The small park here has been the classic viewpoint for this panorama since the 17th century.

Station Overview

Island Gardens opened in 1987 as the original southern DLR terminus. Today it sits at the tip of the Isle of Dogs in Zone 2, one stop south of Mudchute. The station is the starting point for the Greenwich Foot Tunnel -a Victorian pedestrian tunnel beneath the Thames that connects to Cutty Sark DLR station on the other side.

The Greenwich Foot Tunnel

The foot tunnel entrance is a glass-domed rotunda directly beside the station. Built in 1902 and 494 metres long, it is free to use and operates 24 hours a day. Walking the tunnel takes about 7 minutes and emerges beside the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. It is one of the most unusual Thames crossings in London and feels like a genuine piece of Victorian engineering history.

The View from Island Gardens

The park at Island Gardens provides the famous vista of the Old Royal Naval College -twin baroque domes designed by Christopher Wren framing the Queen's House behind. This view was deliberately preserved when the Naval College was built in the 1690s to maintain the sightline from Greenwich Palace. It is one of the finest architectural panoramas in England, best photographed in the morning when the light falls on the south bank.

Travel Tips

• Walk the Greenwich Foot Tunnel to reach Cutty Sark DLR and maritime Greenwich
• The park viewpoint is best in morning light for photography
• Step-free access throughout -lifts serve both ends of the foot tunnel