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Shad Thames
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Shad Thames

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Shad Thames
4.5
98
#366 of 2,580 things to do in London
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Top ways to experience Shad Thames and nearby attractions

The area
How to get there
  • Gallions Reach • 8 min walk
  • Tower Hill • 10 min walk
Best nearby
Restaurants
8,496 within 3 miles
Tom Simmons - Tower Bridge
326
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • European • British • Welsh
Gaucho Tower Bridge
2,976
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All Bar One Butlers Wharf
682
360 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Restaurant Story
843
0.2 mi$$$$ • European • British • Vegetarian Friendly
The Anchor Tap
354
449 ft$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Pub
Emilia's Crafted Pasta (St. Katharine Docks)
579
0.3 mi$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Constancia
538
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Kilikya’s Gastro Cocktails & Lounge
1,499
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • European • Turkish
Cantina del Ponte
1,456
305 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Mediterranean • European
Legare
82
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Attractions
2,186 within 6 miles
Butler's Wharf chop House
58
193 ftNeighborhoods • Piers & Boardwalks
Tower Bridge
39,734
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges
Bridge Theatre
308
0.1 miTheaters
A Complete History of London Show
27
491 ftTheaters
Tower of London
66,874
0.3 miHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
City Hall
300
0.2 miArchitectural Buildings • Government Buildings
Jacob the Horse
2
0.1 miMonuments & Statues
Potters Fields Park
8
0.2 miParks
Maltby Street Market
557
0.3 miFlea & Street Markets
Statue Of Albert McKenzie VC
1
0.2 miMonuments & Statues
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See what other travelers are saying
  • Marianne R
    Fuengirola, Spain181 contributions
    Saturday night dinner
    Booked a table for Saturday evening . The place was very quiet when we arrived although all the staff appeared to be busy and we waited a while at the entrance until someone acknowledged us However food was delicious. Choice of puddings excellent and service eventually good . Noticed other tables waited up to 15 minutes to order. So otherwise would have had a higher rating.
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 2, 2022
  • Joasi23
    South Yorkshire, United Kingdom1,182 contributions
    Thank you T/A, the reviews led us here !
    What an impressive area architecturally. All the better for seeing on a beautiful sept afternoon with the sun adding to an already picturesque setting. Fabulous history behind the now glamorous apartments. Would love to live there!
    Written September 27, 2021
  • AnnieMac
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom3,274 contributions
    Superb area to visit or stay in
    Just behind the Thames & what a beautiful area. It was just round from our hotel so we wandered the area exploring shops & restaurants every day. The architecture is stunning & presents an amazing area of London which must be lovely to live in. Cobble streets, bridges & well restored buildings. Love Butlers Wharf.
    Traveled as a couple
    Written August 17, 2021
These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
98 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
41
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Azeem
5 contributions
Huge Potential - lots of room for improvement
Jun 2021 • Friends
2 stars will seem harsh because there is a lot to like about Coco. However, this is constructive criticism which I hope the restaurant will take on board, address and improve.

I had the Wagyu steak at £60. The steak was slightly above average at best. The restaurant could not provide balsamic vinegar, mustard, horseradish sauce....
There was no artificial sweetner available instead of sugar with the tea. The dessert menu is extremely limited.

The prices are bordering on extortionate for very average food and drink. The waiters are almost exclusively Bangladeshi and they speak very poor English. Simple instructions had to be repeated multiple times.

Now for the good. The restaurant location is stunning. On the banks of the Thames next to Tower Bridge. The senior waitress, Naz, was charming, polite and very courteous. She was proactively seeking feedback so the restaurant could improve. The proprietor was warm and welcoming and is clearly determined to please his customers. The restaurant is exclusively halal and a prayer room is available for customers to use upon asking. This could quite easily become a real go to place for Muslims if the points made above are addressed. Pricing needs to be a bit more sensible as this will be a deal killer for many I suspect. The restaurant has been open 3 weeks and they need to up their game urgently to establish themselves as a premier eatery for Muslims. The place has wonderful ambience and a great vibe.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Pandamedic
Lichfield, UK5,553 contributions
Throwback
Jan 2020
We had a little stroll around here and loved it. There was actually a photo of the walkways in our hotel room that looked really cool, we didn't realise it was here. It looks really cool, a little throwback in time.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK165,935 contributions
It's above average
Apr 2019 • Solo
Shad Thames is a historic street next to Butlers Wharf and close to Tower Bridge. In the 19th century, the area included the largest warehouse complex in London and on the streets, you can still see walkways the used to link the warehouses together. The area has been regenerated and not houses a mixture of cafes, bars, restaurants and residential properties. To be honest, I didn't really find it that great a place for eating, St Katherine Docker across the river is better for choice.
Written April 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Abbotsbury92
Chevy Chase, MD912 contributions
Beautifully-restored historical London docks and warehouses
Oct 2016 • Solo
Located just southeast of Tower Bridge on the south bank of the Thames, Shad Thames is a lovely area of restored warehouses and wharves that now contain flats, restaurants and offices. These were functioning docks and storage facilities until the early ‘70s. After falling derelict they began to be redeveloped in the early ‘80s. It’s well worth taking an hour or so to stroll around here, enjoying the view of the City and Tower Bridge from Butler’s Wharf, and wandering among the old warehouses.

I'd lived in London for several years long ago and had never made it down here to wander around Shad Thames. On a recent business trip in early October I walked over from the City across Tower Bridge on a sunny Monday afternoon, having concluded my meetings, and enjoyed an hour-long walk.

The Shad Thames Area Management Partnership (search “STAMP Shad Thames” online) contains an informative, free, PDF walking tour guide to Shad Thames under the “Resources” menu on its Web site. I used it and was very happy with the detail it contained.

Begin by walking the interior street of Shad Thames past the old Courage Brewery complex and Butler’s Wharf, with its high iron footbridges connecting the warehouses still in place. Pop through one of the alleys over to the river and enjoy the view of Tower Bridge from Butler’s Wharf. You’ll even find a set of stairs down to the riverbed, which you can use at low tide, accessed from immediately downstream of Tower Bridge through the old Courage Brewery building.

Back on the interior Shad Thames street, at its east end adjacent to the Design Museum there’s a beautiful old warehouse (Wheat Wharf) and an old Thames pumping station built for storm drainage. Take a detour out to the river here and across the St. Saviour Dock footbridge to enjoy the view of this little inlet from the Thames and the old warehouses that line it, which now contain blocks of flats.

Retrace your steps and keep walking south down Shad Thames past the massive old grinding wheels at Butler’s Grinders & Operators. Turning west into Queen Elizabeth Street you’ll encounter my favourite feature of Shad Thames: The Circle, built in the late 1980s. This is a group of four quadrant blocks housing apartments and offices done up in a gorgeous ultramarine glazed brick. In the late afternoon sun on a cloudless day the deep blue colour was mesmerizing. At the center of The Circle, in the middle of the street, is a sculpture of Jacob the Dray Horse, representing the animals that pulled the wagons delivering Courage brewery products.

I'm very glad I visited at long last and will certainly return on future trips to enjoy Shad Thames.
Written November 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
alanwestlondon
London, UK56 contributions
Pre theatre meal
Dec 2019 • Family
Average meal with slow service albeit very pleasant in manner. Wish we had gone with original choice of the Cantina just further along.
Homogeneous cuisine from a standard Resturant chain.
Aperol spritz was pleasant albeit it turned up with an olive in ! Although my wife liked the addition I thought it was wrong on many levels - it’s not a martini!
Gluten free pizza was the star for my sister in law. My ravioli was over baked. One daughters crab ravioli was far to rich even for my taste.
A little disappointed - a bit more effort it could deliver
Written December 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
CyndeeLaw
Toronto, Canada221 contributions
Step back into Old London - A good walk
Oct 2019 • Solo
If you want to feel old London, Shad Thames is worth going to. Yes, there is a modern feel. But, you can also feel yourself walking at the old wharf.
Written October 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Peter B
London, UK68 contributions
Fantastic Dickension facade,like being in Oliver!
May 2019
Great area on the southbank near by Tower Bridge.
After youve been to Borough Market,take the Queens Walk,down the side of the Thames to TowerBridge and youre there in fifteen minutes.
Great unusual architecture,where the old warehouses still command you look andvexplrebthevsrea.
Loads of old spice warehouses around Shad Thames, on a hot day thevaromas seep,out ofbthe brickwork into the air.
Theres also,lots of places for ounch and dinner and breakfast!
Plus itsca greatvwalk down the Thames,lots to see on both sides of the water.
Written May 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mohameda022
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates47 contributions
Shad Thames
Nov 2015 • Couples
One of the most beautiful places in London is the Shad Thames where you will see the Tower Bridge, London bridge and many restaurants and coffee shops. London more and River view are amazing
Written October 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland17,616 contributions
Great area with interesting history.
Jan 2022 • Couples
Shad Thames is a very vibrant cobblestone area that sits just over Tower Bridge. Very historic area and where the ships used to dock.
Written January 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
StephenCross
Dublin, Ireland17,616 contributions
Cobblestone street
Aug 2021 • Solo
This is an excellent area and an old cobblestone street just off the Thames. All the buildings are named after spices and the bridges over the street were how the spices were rolled into other warehouses back in the day.
Written August 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Shad Thames (London) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Frequently Asked Questions about Shad Thames
We recommend booking Shad Thames tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 3 Shad Thames tours on Tripadvisor