Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A Few About The London Docklands

London is full of many historic momentous. The whole imperial city is overflowing with history and culture. Docklands is a place that attracts tourists. It is in the eastern part of the city and previously known as the Port of London. This area, along with obtaining some enviable views of the waterfront, is the living evidence of the unique mix of industrialization and modern day development.

The port itself goes back to Roman and medieval times as soon as ships would dock in these areas, back then referred to as the Pool of London. The early version from the Surrey Commercial Docks business was formed to prevent problems of robberies and allocation of space for the numerous ships. This entity provided a sheltered anchorage space for 120 vessels. Its innovative port system allowed for much of the British expansion of the Georgian and Victorian periods. In another historical development, the Docklands were bombed in World War II and were hit by more than 2,500 bombs. The rest of the 20th century saw both widespread prosperity in the Docklands with the rebuilding of Britain after the war and widespread poverty when, in the 1960s and 70s, the city suddenly switched to using a deep-water cargo shipping system. The shallower dock areas were suddenly ghost towns. In the 80s, a landmark government intervention was launched to try to redevelop the area. This massive effort by the London Docklands Development Organization was 1 with the first of its kind in London and remains a controversial symbol of Margaret Thatcher's administration and policies. The area was designated a small business zone, essentially translating to extra incentives for businesses to invest there.

For those unfamiliar with dock jargon, there were three kinds of docks: wet docks, dry docks and dockyards. Wet docks are the space where ships were anchored and unloaded or loaded with goods. Smaller dry docks hold ships one by one for repairs. Dockyards are where the ships themselves were built. Many of the docks are currently functioning as marinas and are home to water sports crafts. Workers in and around the docks and dockyards are where some of London's most tight-knit, specialized cultures were created. These cultures have been reinvigorated and revived since the development projects and the area now publishes its own free newspaper, The Docklands, and has its own symphony orchestra called the Docklands Sinfonia. Tourists in London looking to stray off the beaten path can check out Canary Wharf, the new marinas, and the Museum of London Docklands. The Museum has free admission and includes a collection of artifacts and models as well as a lecture theater and classroom spaces. Canary Wharf is a single of England's biggest financial centers. It boasts the tallest completed building inside the U.K., 1 Canada Square. Most in the Docklands hotels are in this flashy area speckled with high rises. Quite a few in the 2012 London Olympic Games events will probably be held around this area, one more incentive to spend.

Author’s favorite travel destination is London and wants to go there. You can book cheap train tickets to London now to save few bucks. Enjoy cheap train travel to London and have fun of all the attractive destinations of this royal city.

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