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Tubewalker: The Tube, on Foot

Jubilee Line: Canada Water to North Greenwich

Amazing graffiti at the Odessa Street Youth Club
Amazing graffiti at the Odessa Street Youth Club

What a fantastic walk! I'd readily do this walk all over again, just for the pleasure, and even the sullen grey skies of this pathetic excuse for a summer failed to ruin it. This section is fairly unique among tubewalks – the closest is perhaps the section of the East London line along the Thames – and even though it's the second longest tubewalk in my entire route – the Northern line loop from Kennington to Euston and back is half a mile longer – the scenery is so breathtaking that the miles just just fly by.

Canada Water to Canary Wharf

Albion Canal
Albion Canal

The approach to Canada Water from the west is a fairly gritty affair, with a long walk through the housing estates of Bermondsey, but from the moment you reach Canada Water, things improve considerably, and the positive effects of regeneration are plain to see. Just south of the station is Canada Water itself, a lake that is all that remains of Canada Dock. It's pleasant enough, even though there's a massive sports mega-store lurking on the other side, but the Albion Canal that links Canada Water and Surrey Water is an absolute delight. This canal used to be Albion Dock, but like so much of the Docklands area, it's been filled in and converted into quality housing. It was incredibly quiet as I wandered along the canal, the pleasant apartment blocks on either side eerily silent, but even though the canal is currently smothered in pondweed and there's nobody about during the day, I liked the place. It's clean, it's well laid out, it's peaceful and the buildings are rather pleasant.

On top of Stave Hill
On top of Stave Hill
Surrey Docks Farm
Surrey Docks Farm
A sculpture on the way into Greenland Dock
A sculpture on the way into Greenland Dock
The southern entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel
The southern entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel
Island Gardens
Island Gardens
Image from Canada Water to North Greenwich
The Dome from Cubitt Town
The Dome from Cubitt Town
The square outside Canary Wharf station, as seen from the north
The square outside Canary Wharf station, as seen from the north

Canary Wharf to North Greenwich

The Docklands Light Railway approaching South Quay station
The Docklands Light Railway approaching South Quay station

From Canary Wharf, my plan was to head south through the middle of the Isle of Dogs, cross under the river again, explore Greenwich, and finally head up the riverbank to the Dome, where North Greenwich station signals the end of this long day's walk. It is again an enjoyable walk, and is surprisingly different to the hike from Canada Water to Canary Wharf.

Clippers Quay
Clippers Quay
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel
Greenwich Market
Greenwich Market
The view from Greenwich Park
The view from Greenwich Park
A quay by the Thames with no safety barriers
Walking along the south bank of the Thames, without safety barriers
Canary Wharf from the Thames Path
Canary Wharf from the Thames Path