Rotherhithe, London

Rotherhithe is a residential district in the London Borough of Southwark. It is located on the southern bank of the River Thames, and includes a peninsula that points north towards Limehouse across the river.

Rotherhithe was a port area. The same as places on the opposite bank of the Thames, its dockyards are part of what is known today as the London Docklands. There were shipyards in this area right up to the early 20th century. The area began to gentrify towards the end of the 20th century, boosted by the extension of the Jubilee Line that connects it to Central London and the Canary Wharf areas. The London Overground was also extended to Rotherhithe in 2010, providing quick access to the City of London.

The ship Mayflower set sail from Rotherhithe for Southampton in July 1620. At that time, the English Separatists were staying in Leiden, in the Netherlands. They hired another ship, the Speedwell, to take them from Delfthaven in the Netherlands to Southampton, where they boarded the Mayflower for the journey to America. The ship's captain, Christopher Jones, died when he returned to England in 1621, and was buried at St. Mary's Church in Rotherhithe. The voyage of the Mayflower started near a public house in Rotherhithe called the Shippe on Rotherhithe Street. That pub has since been renamed the Mayflower.

The Mayflower Pub on Rotherhithe StreetThe Mayflower Pub on Rotherhithe Street
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mayflower_pub._117,_Rotherhithe_Street,_London,_SE16_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1521141.jpg
Author: Chris Lordan
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Places in Rotherhithe

  1. Brunel Museum
    Museum that provides information on the history of the Thames Tunnel and its construction.

  2. Canada Water
    Freshwater lake and wildlife refuge in the Rotherhithe part of Docklands.

  3. Cuckold's Point
    The bend of the River Thames on the northern part of the Rotherhithe peninsula.

  4. Finnish Church
    Officially the Finnish Seamen's Mission, church for the Finnish workers and seafarers.

  5. Greenland Dock
    The oldest riverside wet dock in London

  6. Hilton Docklands Nelson Dock Pier
    Pier on the River Thames in Rotherhithe.

  7. King's Stairs Garden
    A small park along the River Thames near Bermondsey.

  8. Russian Dock Woodland
    Long, narrow park in Rotherhithe created by filling in one of the former Surrey Commercial Docks.

  9. South Dock
    One of the two surviving docks of the former Surrey Commerical Docks.

  10. Southwark Park
    Public park opened in 1869 covering 63 acres.

  11. St Mary's Church
    Anglican church at the centre of Rotherhithe village.

  12. Stave Hill
    Man-made hill which is part of Russia Dock Woodland.

  13. Surrey Docks Farm
    A working farm within London, raising goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, ducks, geese, chickens, turkeys, bees and donkeys.

How to reach Rotherhithe

Take the Jubilee Line to the Canada Water Tube Station or the London Overground to the Canada Water and Rotherhithe Stations.

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