Step back in time at the Museum of London Docklands
Originally a warehouse built 200 years ago to store sugar, coffee and rum, this free museum at West India Quay in east London charts the history of the city as a port, from the arrival of the Romans to the rise of Canary Wharf. The Sailortown gallery is an atmospheric recreation of 19th-century London, while London, Sugar & Slavery focuses on the city's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
Explore the Docklands area
As well as the museum, this vibrant waterfront haven is packed with moored yachts, ships and historic Thames barges. Canary Wharf is in the heart of the Docklands, with an excellent array of shops, restaurants, bars and parks. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) makes it easy to travel around the area, and some of the views from the train are spectacular. .
Soak up the atmosphere of Billingsgate Market
If you want to experience an authentic side to London, this famous wholesale seafood market is the place to be. It opens at 4am, and it's worth getting up early to be part of the bustle as every type of fish imaginable is traded. More than 40 stalls sell everything from Scottish smoked salmon and rock eel to giant oysters and prawns. Be careful not to get in the way of the traders though. Looking for a cheap hotel Near the Museum of London Docklands? Travelodge London Docklands Hotel is about a mile away. Slightly further afield is Travelodge London Bethnal Green Hotel.