Water Safety
The Royal Docks in east London, is a vibrant destination for recreation, events, and water-based activities. While the docks provide valuable opportunities for leisure and sport, water safety remains a critical priority.
Know the risks before you enter the water
All visitors, participants, and operators are encouraged to act responsibly around the water. The docks are deep, cold, and can present hidden hazards such as sudden drop-offs, limited exit points, and watercraft movement. Entering the water outside of designated activities is strongly discouraged.
In an emergency
In the event of an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Lifesaving equipment, including throw lines and life rings, are installed at various points around the docks and should only be used in emergencies.
By following these guidelines, everyone can help ensure that the Royal Docks remain a safe and enjoyable environment for all.
Misuse or Taking of Life Rings
The misuse or taking of life rings is a really serious issue and in the worse case could lead to the loss of life. We ask you to stop and think about how you would feel if it was your family member/child that drowned because there was no life ring in the place where it should have been?
While we will continue to check life rings in the morning (Monday – Friday) in areas where they are often misused, we cannot monitor them across all 13km of Dock Edge during the day.
So please help us:
- Talk to your children about water safety and not to remove the life rings
- Return any life rings to us that are found in the area
- Report to us on 0207 511 5086 or admin@royaldockswaterways.com when one is missing
Water Activities
If you are interested in the activities available on the water, please click on the following:
LoveOpenWater Swimming
Open water swimming in the heart of Royal Victoria Dock. Sessions, coaching and safety support for swimmers of all abilities.
Royal Docks Watersports
A registered charity bringing rowing, sailing and dragon boating to people of all ages and abilities on the Royal Albert and Victoria Docks.
Wakeup Docklands
WakeUp Docklands brings cable wakeboarding, paddleboarding, hydrofoiling and SUP yoga to the heart of Royal Victoria Dock.
FAQs
Find answers to common questions about staying safe on and around the water at the Royal Docks.
Open water swimming takes place at designated locations within the docks under managed conditions. Entering the water outside of these designated areas and organised sessions is strongly discouraged. The docks are deep, cold and contain hidden hazards including sudden drop-offs, limited exit points and active watercraft movement.
Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Life-saving equipment including throw lines and life rings is installed at various points around the dock edge and should only be used in genuine emergencies. Do not enter the water yourself to attempt a rescue.
Life rings are there to save lives. Removing or misusing them could have devastating consequences if someone enters difficulty in the water and there is no equipment available nearby. We check life rings each weekday morning but cannot monitor all 13km of dock edge throughout the day. Please help us by talking to children about why life rings must never be removed, returning any found in the area, and reporting missing life rings to us on 0207 511 5086 or admin@londonsroyaldocks.com.
The docks present a number of hazards that are not always visible from the surface. These include deep and cold water, sudden drop-offs, limited exit points, underwater obstructions and the movement of vessels. Cold water shock is also a serious risk for anyone who enters the water unexpectedly.
Yes. The guidelines apply to everyone using or working near the water, including visitors, participants in organised activities and operators. All activity providers must ensure their participants are properly briefed and equipped before entering the water.
If you spot a missing life ring, a safety hazard or any other water safety concern, please contact us as soon as possible on 0207 511 5086 or at admin@londonsroyaldocks.com. We take all reports seriously and will respond promptly.
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