Royal Docks cycling tour - Sunday 2 June 2024 2pm
Regular price £5.00Join Open City for a cycling tour of the Royal Docks, one of east London’s most unique and ambitious regeneration zones.
This fun and engaging walking tour led by expert guide Mike Althorpe — an urban historian, architectural researcher, educator and story teller — will explore this historic former docklands area which has been tipped for massive regeneration in recent decades.
The Royal Docks and surrounding area were constructed in the 1850s, and abandoned just over a century later. They have long been tipped as London’s next major regeneration opportunity.
Local landmarks include the WilkinsonEyre-designed Crystal which has recently been upgraded by Architecture 00 to provide a new home for London’s City Hall, the Excel exhibition centre, which was expanded by Grimshaw in 2010; and the competition-winning Royal Victoria Dock Bridge by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands.
Providing a fun way for enthusiastic urbanists to discover the city, this tour will explore the architecture and history of this unique 500 hectare landscape focusing on key upcoming developments which are set to further enhance the area for the benefit of all Londoners.
Key information
Meet: at the Landing Statue (Dockers Statue) between Royal Victoria Square and ExCel London
The statue is in front of the steps to Excel London and a picture of the statue is on the image carousel here
End: Royal Albert Wharf, near to Gallions reach DLR.
Duration: 2 hrs approx.
Cost: £5.00 with support from GLA and the Royal Docks Team.
Route: This cycle tour has an Open City cycle tour difficulty rating of easy. Participants must be competent riders and bring their own bicycle.
Please note participants may have to carry their bikes at various stages in the walk, including up many flights of stairs. Please bring a bike lock with you.
Mike Althorpe is an urban historian, architectural researcher, storyteller and guide 'The London Ambler' With a background in Fine Art and architectural history, between 2006 - 2009 Mike was part of architectural think tank Building Futures and from 2011-2015 was public programmes curator at the RIBA. Since 2016 he has worked with Karakusevic Carson Architects and in 2017 co-authored the practice-led book ‘Social Housing’ and curated the exhibition of the same name in London in 2017 and at New York’s Center for Architecture in 2018. In 2019 he was the recipient of RIBA Research Fund and published ‘Revolutionary Low Rise’ – a publication exploring international low rise, high density housing with Abigail Batchelor.
Mike has produced tours and walking events for five years with collaborators and clients including; Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), The Architecture Foundation, Northbank BID, AA Night School, the London Festival of Architecture, Grosvenor, The London Society and Facebook.
Tickets are non-refundable and tours go ahead rain or shine.
* Please check for any planned transport engineering works, planned strike action or large scale events that may effect your journey before making your ticket purchase *
If you find you can no longer make the tour for any reason we are unable to transfer you to another date, but please feel free to pass your booked place onto a friend to go and enjoy the tour in your place.
In the event your tour date is cancelled you will be issued with a credit note (with no expiry date) that you can use to
- book onto a rescheduled date
- book onto any other tour from our programme
or you can request a refund.
All ticket purchases are in support of the work of our organisation including our pioneering education programmes. We really appreciate your support!
Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
If you find you can no longer make the tour for Covid or any reason we are unable to transfer you to another date, but please feel free to pass your booked place onto a friend to go in your place.
In the event your tour date is cancelled due to Covid or any other reason you will be provided with the opportunity to book onto a rescheduled date, book onto another tour, provided with a credit note (with no expiry date) or you can request a refund.
All ticket purchases are in support of the work of our organisation including our pioneering education programmes. We really appreciate your support!
Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries.
