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About Royal Docks Waterways

Royal Docks Waterways are the custodians of the water for London’s Royal Docks.

We operate the water and are mandated to a series of tasks to maintain, repair, refurbish and replace the operational infrastructure of the Docks

We have a lease over the water and some small adjacent land elements until 2115. Since early 2026 the GLA gave us the additional task of developing areas of the water to increase the level of water activation.

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London's Royal Docks

Five kilometres of living, working waterways

The Royal Docks are one of London’s most extraordinary places. Stretching over five kilometres, they were once the largest enclosed docks in the world, a global hub of trade, industry and human endeavour.

Today, those same 250 acres of water form the setting for something new. A place being carefully and purposefully opened up, where history and ambition sit side by side, and where the water is once again at the centre of everything.

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The Royal Docks are home to a growing range of activities, attractions and communities, all connected by the water that runs through them.

That history is never far away. It shaped the area, the infrastructure and the people who work here, and it continues to inform everything we do. It is the combination of that working heritage and the energy of what is being built here now that makes this place unlike anywhere else in the city.

Our Vision | About Us | Royal Docks London | Royal Docks Waterways

How London’s Royal Docks are being reimagined as living, working waterways, supporting communities, biodiversity, and growth through to 2030.

The Royal Docks are at a genuinely exciting point in their story. We have the water, the mandate, and the momentum to make this one of London’s most remarkable places to live, work and spend time.

Scott Derben, Managing Director at Royal Docks Waterways
Scott Derben
Managing Director, Royal Docks Waterways
Our Team

A dedicated team that supports one another and the communities we work with to deliver to the highest standards, every step of the way.

Find out more

Accreditations & Memberships

We hold ourselves to the highest standards in everything we do. Our accreditations and memberships reflect our ongoing commitment to safety, fairness, and responsible operations across the docks.

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    Living Wage Foundation

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    Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Our Story | Royal Docks London History | London History | About Us | London Royal Docks | London | Royal Docks Waterways

Established in 1989 to protect and maintain the Royal Docks, Royal Docks Waterways is now entering its most significant phase yet.

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Partnerships

Royal Docks Waterways works in close partnership with the Royal Docks Team, the GLA-backed body responsible for driving regeneration and investment across the wider area. Together, we share a vision for what these waterways can become.

Partnerships

We work alongside a wide range of organisations, from major operators and institutions to local businesses and community groups, all connected by the docks and committed to making this a place that works for everyone.

  • GLA (Greater London Authority)
  • ExCeL London
  • London City Airport
  • London Borough of Newham
  • University of East London
  • Lendlease
  • Royal Albert Dock Trust
  • London Cable Car Logo
  • Ballymore
  • DPK Management

News & Insights

The latest from Royal Docks Waterways, covering operations, environment, community, and the future of the docks.

Get In Touch

We’re keen to hear from you, whether it is about pursuing an opportunity, or finding out more as a local stakeholder or resident.

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Leave your name, email and organisation (if relevant) and we’ll keep you posted with updates.