Shadwell, United Kingdom
Shadwell is a town of 15,110 people in England, United Kingdom.
Why visit Shadwell
Townapedia lists 136 museums and landmarks, 76 parks and trails, 136 places to eat, 33 places to stay and 50 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Wilton's Music Hall, Curzon Aldgate, Bank of England and Clink Prison Museum.
Weather in Shadwell
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Shadwell
Shadwell is an area in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in East London, England. It also forms part of the city's East End. Shadwell is on the north bank of the River Thames between Wapping (to the west) and Ratcliff and Limehouse (to the east) and is 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Charing Cross. This riverside location has meant the area's history and character have been shaped by the maritime trades.
From the Wikipedia article Shadwell (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos of Shadwell
Things to do50
Wilton's Music Hall
Cinema and theater · 0.4 mi
1 Graces Alley, London
Mo-Fr 12:00-23:00; Sa 17:00-23:00
Blue Elephant Theatre
Cinema and theater · 2.8 mi
Community theatre in Camberwell, London
Canterbury Music Hall
Cinema and theater · 2.6 mi
Former music hall and theatre in Lambeth, London, England
Sky Garden
Scenic view · 1.2 mi
Sky Garden viewpoint is accessible to all, and entry is free of charge. Tickets are available to book online on a weekly basis, up to...
20 Fenchurch Street, London
Mo-Fr 10:00-18:00; Sa-Su,PH 11:00-21:00
38 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks136
The Monument to the Great Fire of London
Monument and historic site · 1.3 mi
Mo-Su 09:30-13:00,14:00-18:00 "last admission 12:30 and 17:30";...
Whitechapel Gallery
Museum · 0.7 mi
77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London
Tu-We,Fr-Su 11:00-18:00; Th 11:00-21:00
Bank Of England Museum
Museum · 1.3 mi
The entrance is on Bartholomew Lane, on the eastern edge of the Bank of England. You can’t access the museum through the main Bank entrance.
Mo-Fr 10:00-17:00
ARTE DELUX
Museum · 1.4 mi
Private art gallery, by appointment
Laurence Pountney Hill, London
Mo-Fr 09:00-18:00
124 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds76
Brookmill Park
Park · 3.2 mi
Park in London Borough of Lewisham, United Kingdom
Brookmill Road Local Nature Reserve
Park · 3.3 mi
Nature reserve in Lewisham, London, England
Brunswick Park
Park · 2.8 mi
Public park located in Camberwell, Southwark, London
64 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes136
George Inn
Bar and pub · 1.5 mi
75-77 Borough High Street, London
Mo-Th 11:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-00:00; Su 12:00-22:30
The Lord Tredegar
Bar and pub · 1.5 mi
50 Lichfield Road, London
Mo-Th 16:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-24:00; Su 12:00-22:00
Commercial Tavern
Bar and pub · Pizza · 1.1 mi
142 Commercial Street, London
Mo-Sa 12:00-23:00; Su 12:00-22:30
Hoop and Grapes
Bar and pub · Local · 0.8 mi
47 Aldgate High Street, London
Su-Fr 12:00-23:30; Sa 11:00-18:00
The Counting House
Bar and pub · Local · 1.2 mi
50 Cornhill, London
Mo 07:00-22:00; Tu-Fr 07:00-23:00; Sa 08:00-22:00; Su 08:00-18:00
The George Tavern
Bar and pub · Pizza
373 Commercial Road, London
Su-We 16:00-00:00; Th 16:00-02:30; Fr-Sa 16:00-03:00
The Prospect of Whitby
Bar and pub · 0.4 mi
The Oldest Thames Riverside Tavern and the 2nd oldest tavern in London.
57 Wapping Wall, London
Anspach & Hobday
Brewery and winery · 1.1 mi
118 Druid Street, London
Fr 14:00-22:00; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 13:00-19:00; We 17:00-21:00; Th...
WatchHouse
Cafe · Coffee Shop · 1.4 mi
199 Bermondsey Street, London
Mo-Fr 07:00-18:00; Sa-Su 08:00-18:00
124 more on the map.
History
In the 13th century, the area was a low lying marsh known as Scadflet, from the Anglo-Saxon fleot, meaning a shallow creek or bay. Because a spring by a church dedicated to St Chad filled a nearby well, a false etymology changed the name into Chadwelle. This changed further into Shadwell.
In 1975, archaeologists discovered evidence of a port complex between Ratcliff and Shadwell, that was used throughout Roman occupation of Britain, and being most active in the 3rd century AD. The port seems to have initially been used for seagoing ships into the City of London, which is believed to have stopped between 250 and 270AD. A water level drop meant that the port was used primarily for the public bath house near St George in the East, which existed from the first to fourth centuries.
In 2019, remains of a Roman Bath House was located in Wapping Lane, on the northeast corner of Sovereign Close.
Archaeologists have also found evidence of a late third-century signal tower in Shadwell. A Roman cemetery containing two coffins was also discovered in Shadwell in around 1615.
The area was part of the historic (or ancient) county of Middlesex, but military and most (or all) civil county functions were managed more locally, by the Tower Division (also known as the Tower Hamlets).
Read more of the history
The role of the Tower Division ended when Shadwell became part of the new County of London in 1889. On 1 April 1921 the civil parish was abolished and merged with Limehouse. At the 1911 census (one of the last before the abolition of the parish), Shadwell had a population of 7838. The County of London was replaced by Greater London in 1965.
Shadwell's eastern waterfront had been drained in the Middle Ages whilst the western waterfront had been drained during the reign of King Henry VIII, by Cornelius Vanderdelf after an act of Parliament. This had been caused by an increase in London's maritime activities in the 16th century.
The riverside areas of East London experienced rapid, low quality development, that reached Shadwell in the late 16th century. Writing in 1598, John Stow describes the poverty of the riverside development that took place then, with its:
continual street or filthy strait passage with alleys of small tenements or cottages built…almost to Ratcliffe
John Stow also recalls elm trees being felled in order to make way for tenements. Away from the river the area remained largely undeveloped. In 1650, Shadwell had 703 buildings. Of the houses, 195 were single-storey houses, 473 were two-storey houses, and 33 were three-storey houses, although many were subdivided. The population of Shadwell in 1650 was around 3,500. In the 1660s, a hearth tax was introduced, although around 50% of residents in Shadwell were deemed too poor to pay the tax.
In 1669, Thomas Neale became a local landowner, buying some land reclaimed from the river, and gained Shadwell parish status. In addition, Neale built 289 homes, a mill, and a market, and also established a waterworks on large ponds left by the draining of the marsh. The area had been largely undeveloped and he developed the waterfront, with houses behind as a speculation, and in doing so provided fresh water for Shadwell and Wapping. Shadwell's maritime industries were further developed with roperies, tanneries, breweries, wharves, smiths, and numerous taverns, as well as the chapel of St Paul's. Seventy-five sea captains are buried in its churchyard; Captain James Cook had his son baptised there. Shadwell's new houses were built in an orderly fashion, so that the streets ran between Ratcliff Highway and Wapping Wall. In 1674, Shadwell had a population of around 8,000. The prosperity in this period has been linked to the road connections into London, which were maintained by wealthy taxpayers from Middlesex, Essex, Kent and Surrey.
A database of UK newspaper adverts, seeking the capture and return of enslaved runaways, known today as Freedom Seekers has identified sisters living and working in Shadwell in the mid-1700s.
Jane Gray and her younger sister, Maria, were born in Antigua in 1739 and 1742. They were the enslaved domestic servants of Captain James Barrett and his family. In 1758, when they were 19 and 16 years old, parish records confirm that the Barrett family lived in Musick House Court, just opposite St Paul's Church, Shadwell.
It is not clear how they entered Captain Barrett's service but the surname, Gray, suggests a connection with the Gray family and their plantations in Antigua. John Gray Senior, owned Turnbulls and Gray's Belfast amongst other property on the island, and he may have named the sisters after two of his daughters, who were also called Jane and Maria.
The sisters arranged their own baptisms, on different days, in July 1758. Not at St Pauls, in the parish they lived, but at St Margaret's, Westminster. It is possible that they intended to establish themselves in a different parish, and did not want the Barretts to know. Four months later, the sisters ran away.
From the History section of Shadwell on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More about Shadwell
Education
Specifically local schools include Blue Gate Fields and Bigland Green Primary school; and Bishop Challoner Catholic School. Also, Mulberry School For Girls
From the Wikipedia article Shadwell, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Shadwell
Apsana BegumBritish politicianPhoto: © House of Commons, CC BY 3.0- Walter PaterEnglish writer, critic and essayist (1839–1894)
- Frederick GrovesBritish association football player (1891-1965)
- Jane Randolph JeffersonThomas Jefferson's mother (1721–1776)
- William Byrd IAmerican politician 1652-1704
- Eliza RobertsBritish nurse of the Crimean War
- Ted JuniperEnglish footballer (born 1901)
- Clifford SmithEnglish cricketer (1902-1959)
- Charles JeffriesSalvation Army clergy
- Thomas Everard (mayor)American politician
- Tom McAdamEnglish footballer
Born in Shadwell, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay33
Hart Shoreditch Hotel London, Curio Collection by Hilton
Motel and hotel · 1.4 mi
61 - 67 Great Eastern Street, London
Churches and places of worship59
Shopping66
Gas and EV charging12
Schools, colleges and libraries34
English Martyrs Roman Catholic Primary School
School · Roman Catholic · 0.7 mi
St Mark Street, London
Peter Hills with St Mary's and St Paul's CofE Primary School
School · Anglican · 0.7 mi
2 Beatson Walk, London
St Anne's and Guardian Angels Catholic Primary School
School · Roman Catholic · 0.8 mi
Underwood Road, London
Healthcare32
Map of Shadwell
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
London City Airport (LCY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 5 miles away.
- Stepney 1 mi northeast, about 1 min by car
- London 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Islington 3 mi northwest, about 4 min by car
- Holborn 3 mi west, about 4 min by car
- Highbury 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- King's Cross 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- Barnsbury 3 mi northwest, about 5 min by car
- West Ham 3 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
- City of Westminster 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Leyton 4 mi northeast, about 6 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Shadwell
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Shadwell basin 1, Tarquin Binary, CC BY-SA 2.5
- ShadwellRailwayStation ConrwallStreet 245 20220425 1754, Karlunun, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Watney Street, Shadwell 2026-03-19, Keith Page, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old House at Home, Shadwell, E1 (4571096278), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Shadwell rail station, Ewan-M, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Watney Street, Shadwell - 2026-03-19, Keith Page, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Letter box near the shadwell DLR station - panoramio, el ui, CC BY 3.0
- Shadwell Gardens, Simon from London, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
- Shadwell DLR station, Ewan-M, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Southern Entrance to Shadwell DLR station, Avtronboy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shadwell railway station MMB 08, mattbuck ( category ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shadwell DLR station MMB 04, mattbuck ( category ), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Shadows at Shadwell DLR station, It's No Game, CC BY 2.0
- Blue Elephant Theatre, secretlondon123, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Canterbury Hall circa 1856, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- Burgess Park, London Borough of Southwark, SE5 SE15 (3038879613), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Guildhall, Londres, Inglaterra, 2014-08-11, DD 139, Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bank of England Building, London, UK - Diliff, Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
- AllHallowsByTheTowerChurch, Lonpicman, Public domain
- The Monument to the Great Fire of London, Eluveitie, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Guy's Hospital (7327450756), Reading Tom from Reading, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Finsbury Circus Gardens City of London 2025 Image Credit Realm, User07963, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hoxton white cube 1, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Whitechapel Gallery in August 2014, Ham, CC BY-SA 3.0
- London.bankofengland.arp, Adrian Pingstone, Public domain
- St Anne, Limehouse (36640179641), Amanda Slater from Coventry, West Midlands, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St Olave Church, Lonpicman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Museum of London Docklands - Joy of Museums, Joyofmuseums, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Church of St Katherine Cree, 2001, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Prospect of Whitby (street view), "Kevin Thompson", CC BY 2.5
- Arbour square1, Casualguy, Public domain
- Bermondsey market (14104526380), bermondsey Square, CC BY 2.0
- Guildhall Art Gallery (14186022081), Elias Gayles from USA, CC BY 2.0
- Christ Church exterior, Spitalfields, London, UK - Diliff, Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey, SE1 (3612012652), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The George Tavern - 373 Commercial Road, London, Jimmyketchup, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Southwark Park Sporting Green, Augustine Lim, Public domain
- St Katharine London, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- London clink prison museum 20050521, Sir James, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wesley's Chapel, London, The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The George Inn 1, Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ackroyd Drive Greenlink 1, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hoop and Grapes, Aldgate, EC3 (2581221888), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- West Face of St Olav's Church, Rotherhithe (II), Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives 01, Paul the Archivist, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Lord Tredegar, Bow, E3 (3543064903), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Commercial Tavern, Spitalfields, E1 (2417457038), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 2 St Mark Street E1, Bobulous, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Fox Umbrella Shop, Steve Cadman, CC BY-SA 2.0
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets - Christ Church CofE Primary School - 20230414172805, Hjamesberglen, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Flying Horse Public House, Jwslubbock, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Counting House (1), Back ache, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bethnal Green Library (6952322595), Reading Tom from Reading, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Bridge Theatre, Lord Belbury, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Genesis, Stepney, E1 (14210132458), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Curzon Aldgate, Aldgate, E1 (35131864925), Ewan Munro from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Canada Water Library March 2012, monkeywing from London, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Bandstand At Boundary Street Garden, Jwslubbock, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hilton London Tower Bridge, User83636835, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Whitechapel Bell Foundry, Mramoeba, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Bevis Marks Synagogue P6110044, Deror avi, Attribution
- St. Helen's Bishopsgate, Wychester, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Denmark House and London Bridge Hospital, Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0
- St Mary Abchurch towards organ, London, UK - Diliff, Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Brookmill Road LNR 1, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bellenden Road Nature Garden 6, Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Spitalfields City Farm goat (102642846), Uri Baruchin from London, UK, CC BY 2.0
- Wilton's Music Hall, London 03, Paul the Archivist, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Duke of York's Theatre, Covent Garden, WC2, Ewan-M, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Brookmill Park, London Borough of Lewisham, SE8, Ewan-M, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 1 and 2 Brunswick Park and attached railings, No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Camberwell Green Park - panoramio, jeffwarder, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Inside the Dixon Hotel, Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0
- Street-level photo, sk53bis, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, jris, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, firefishy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, moon4, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, erias, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, athuler, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, pbb, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, NatchaponJ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, sk53bis, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, ccossio, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, smsm1, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, erias, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, dsmm, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, pbb, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, txllxt, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, kieran, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, erias, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, richlv, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, erias, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, tallguy, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, gness, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, a-sav, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, a-sav, CC BY-SA 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.