Hidden Gem #1 – Trinity Buoy Wharf

• By The Lost Londoner
• 28 January, 2013
• 1 Comment

Trinity Buoy Wharf is most definitely a hidden gem and not one you would find unless you were looking.

I had been there before but hadn’t really explored it fully or eaten at the diner there so I decided to take my friend there for lunch. The wharf is most easily reached by car and parking is free but you can also walk from the closest DLR station. As we turned off of the round-about and drove down a deserted road in what looks like an industrial site I could see the look of concern growing on my friends face. “Where are you taking me?” she asked more than once. This is not a location that’s easily stumbled upon. 

The Wharf is known as “A centre for the arts and cultural activities”. The area is small but every nook and cranny presents something different and completely random, such as London’s only lighthouse and  one of London’s smallest museum. We started on “The Faraday effect”, a tiny shed recreating the work space of scientific advisor Michael Faraday. Even if this doesn’t interest you there is a lot to look at. The lighthouse has a great view of the O2 Arena and houses the Longplayer, an instrument that has been playing continuously since 1999.

I most liked the ‘Container city’ made up of recycled shipping containers. All of a sudden my own flat is isn’t cool enough, I want to live in the container city!

We ate our Lunch at ‘Fat boys diner’. A small size diner selling traditional American food. There were giant burgers and hot dogs on offer but we chose stuffed potato skins and milkshakes. I had looked forward to eating there due to the cool location and my love of diner food but I was quite disappointed. We were sat on bar stools facing the back counter where the food is prepared and it was filthy. The diner was full of tourists and workers from the Wharf, the staff were going as quick as they could but it all seemed a bit manic, clearly not getting a chance to clean as they went. It was an OK place to eat during a visit but I doubt I would return just for the diner.

There is a small cafe next door to the diner, also made out of a container which was closed at the time. There’s seating outside for the diner and the cafe so it would be a great place to visit in the summer. If you go be sure to take a peek around every corner, I found a giant lightbulb sculpture hidden from view, so random.

After we drove down to Island Gardens on the Isle of Dogs. From the gardens Greenwich can be seen across the river and here is the entrance to the Greenwich foot tunnel. A creepy tunnel running underneath the Thames from the gardens to The Cutty Sark. I’ve never been down there so I was curious. It would make a great location for a horror movie!

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