Events
Discover a new side of London this summer. At the Docks 2024
- Free dockside family lido, activities, sporting events & open water swimming – providing activities and an outdoor space for young people and local communities
- World-class arts and culture featuring outdoor circus, street performances, cutting edge international arts, and evening entertainment from Ensemble Festival, The Line and London Festival of Architecture
- Major events at ExCeL London including the 2024 Hankook London E-Prix and the UK’s largest immersive entertainment district Immerse LDN featuring The FRIENDS™ Experience and Formula 1®: The Exhibition
Discover a new side of London this summer with the return of At the Docks, a season of leisure, sports, arts and culture in a unique, inner-city location. At the Docks offers waterside recreation unmatched anywhere else in London and includes a line-up of unmissable outdoor arts and cultural activities, from international artists and local communities alike.
The activities have been designed to provide an outdoor space and dining opportunities for local communities, young people and particularly those that might not have any access to their own garden or outdoor area and welcomes tens of thousands of people each year.
Built over 100 years ago and spanning 12 miles of waterfront and more than 250 acres of open water, the Royal Docks is an important historical area of East London. Located in Newham, London’s youngest and most diverse borough, the Royal Docks makes, commissions, and hosts events and activities inspired by its vibrant communities, rich heritage, and extraordinary landscape. Now in its second year, and just fifteen minutes from central London, At the Docks invites Londoners and tourists alike to this fascinating area of London for a season of dockside summer activities framed by a dramatic urban skyline.
Highlight activities for 2024 include Royal Docks Summer Splash (27 July - 18 August) which features a temporary lido built out on to Royal Victoria Dock, complete with deck chairs, a giant sand pit, food and drink, and iconic waterscape views. Built for Londoners to cool off in the warmer weather and provide outside space for young people and communities, Royal Docks Summer Splash includes free activities for children and adults, from crafts and storytelling to a Thursday evening disco. Wellness and wellbeing are also catered for in a series of nature and guided walks and the opportunity to try out nights of storytelling at an authentic Finnish sauna, plus after work open water swimming.
Ensemble Festival, produced by Royal Docks-based
arts development organisation Certain Blacks and supported by Arts Council England and Without Walls, will present a mix of free circus, dance, and street performances. Highlights include Gorilla Circus and No Fit State Circus, choreography and dance by Chad Taylor, and new theatre by Cardboard Citizens, a company that makes work with and for people experiencing homelessness. At the Docks also presents evening programming for adults that includes open mic nights at Oiler Bar – a dockside venue located in an ex-Royal Navy refuelling barge – live music, drag acts and club nights at music venue The Cause, and a queer film club at the floating Good Hotel.
As London hosts a spectacular summer of sport, it’s great that the Royal Docks is once again offering local young people and communities a wonderful selection of leisure, sport, art and culture.
Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries
ExCeL London play host once more to the 2024 edition of the Hankook London E-Prix alongside the launch of Immerse LDN – brand-new purpose-built event spaces set to be the UK’s largest immersive entertainment district. Bringing together interactive experiences and entertainment brands, the first phase of Immerse LDN begins in August with the launch of both The FRIENDS™ Experience and Formula 1®: The Exhibition, with food and drink from street food collective KERB on offer along the newly developed waterfront.
Public art on view at the Royal Docks includes sculptures and artworks by artists including Laura Ford and Yinka Ilori plus an audio work by award-winning artist Larry Achiampong that works in tandem with a journey on the cable car. All are part of The Line, a major public installation and art walk that runs through the Royal Docks on its route from Stratford to Greenwich.
Work by new designers is showcased in the fifth and final edition of Pews and Perches, a design competition with London Festival of Architecture that sees six new benches commissioned and installed across the area. From one bench constructed from rope and using traditional rigging knots to another that is made from repurposed sugar by-product, these outdoor seats span the practical to the poetic, creatively transforming materials into functional art and engaging with the heritage and landscape of the Royal Docks.
For the first time since 2000, the British Science Festival will return to London this September with an extraordinary programme of workshops, films, demonstrations and exhibitions. The festival will bring pioneering researchers and leading scientists to share their work with local audiences through talks, activities, interactive events, installations and performances. Headlined by Big Manny, the festival will cover a diverse range of topics from ecosystem restoration and the role of zebra fish to mental health post pandemic and the future of AI.
The Royal Docks is a fascinating area of landmark heritage buildings, post-industrial landscape and working water ways. With a majestic history, this was once the busiest docks in London but became neglected after its closure to commercial traffic in 1981. In 2000, ExCeL London opened its doors and the Royal Docks became a stage for large scale events with a worldwide audience. In 2022 City Hall also relocated to the area and the Elizabeth Line opened marking a further step change in the area’s character and offer. More than 35,000 new homes, 55,000 jobs and £5 billion of inward investment are also planned over the next 20 years, with culture and creativity at its fore.
Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said:
“I’m delighted to see the return of the hugely popular At the Docks summer festival. As London hosts a spectacular summer of sport, it’s great that the Royal Docks is once again offering local young people and communities a wonderful selection of leisure, sport, art and culture. From immersive experiences and high-profile sporting events to free outdoor performances, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Royal Docks as we continue to build a better London for everyone.”
FEATURED LISTINGS
Ensemble Festival
20 - 21 July 2024
Royal Victoria Dock
Ensemble Festival, presented by Certain Blacks and supported by Without Walls and Arts Council, England, is a free festival featuring an eclectic mix of circus, dance, and street performance. Back for a fifth edition, it continues to deliver a programme of national and international work from emerging artists. This year includes the celebrated feats of NoFit State Circus, one of the UK’s most treasured contemporary circus companies, creating and performing their signature stunts on towering structures built entirely from bamboo. Gorilla Circus return with their new show combining acrobatics, street dance and roller skating, performed on a giant moving treadmill while renowned theatre company Cardboard Citizens present their Collective Youth Programme and the Great Yiddish Parade pay homage to an East London working class tradition as part of the festival opener.
2024 Hankook London E-Prix
20 July and 21 July
ExCeL London
Formula E are back at ExCeL London as the FIA World Championship comes to a dramatic climax. Thanks to the emissions-free nature of the cars, London features a unique track that weaves its way both inside and outside of exhibition centre and around the historical heartland of the Royal Docks; a first for top-level international motorsport. Alongside all the action on track, there is an immersive fan festival in the Allianz Fan Village featuring performances from Ella Henderson and Craig David.
Find out more
Royal Docks Summer Splash
27 July – 18 August
Royal Victoria Dock
Back by popular demand, Royal Docks Summer Splash gives locals and visitors alike the chance to experience free open water swimming in a temporary lido built onto the dock edge, featuring a giant sand pit, deckchairs, food and drink, and all-round family fun. The lido built at Royal Victoria Docks is complete with a shallow end so children can have a paddle too. Open to all ages.
Find out more
T100 London Triathlon
27 & 28 July
Royal Docks / ExCeL London
The London T100 Triathlon showcases the world’s best triathletes with 20 men and 20 women competing in every race. The London T100 Triathlon will start and finish at ExCeL London on the 27th and 28th July and enjoys a unique urban route through the City, allowing athletes of all levels to swim, cycle and run past iconic landmarks of London. If you want to watch the swim, cycle and run sections, including the exhibition, transition area and indoor finish, please head to ExCeL, entrance is free-of-charge.
Immerse LDN
August 2024
ExCeL London
Located in the Royal Docks spanning a kilometre of ExCeL’s picturesque waterfront, Immerse LDN is the capital’s newest and the UK’s largest immersive entertainment district. Set to become one of London’s leading visitor destinations, Immerse LDN comprises multiple ultra-modern venue spaces set across 160,000sqft, each housing some of the best-loved entertainment brands and immersive experiences. Opening August 2024, Immerse LDN will be the new home for The FRIENDS™ Experience London and the Formula 1®: The Exhibition, with more to be announced soon. Immerse LDN will also house a wide variety of food and drink offerings, beginning with street food collective KERB – serving some of London’s most exciting street food – followed by a brand-new waterside restaurant and café later in the year.
Find out more
Sweheat Sauna
Throughout Summer
Royal Victoria Dock
Located in Royal Victoria Dock, Sweheat Sauna is a wood fired outdoor sauna featuring a Finnish design stove that comfortably seats up to 12 people and features an accompanying cold plung pool. Each event is carefully curated, from mythic storytelling to quintessential German Sauna Experiences and everything in-between.
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DLR Summer Treasure Hunt
28 July – 8 September
Various
Join the free DLR summer treasure hunt with mascots DLR Dave and Doris. Help them find the treasure hidden around London’s Docklands starting at Tower Gateway DLR station. Once you’ve completed the hunt, you can head to London City Airport Information Centre to collect your medal. The hunt will take place from July 28th - September 8th 2024. To join the hunt, you will need to download the Actionbound app on your smartphone and then search for "DLR Treasure Hunt".
Find out more
The Line - Free public art trail
Various locations
The Line is an ambitious public art project in East London that connects Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the O2, via the Royal Docks, following the waterways and the line of the Greenwich Meridian. Its outdoor exhibition programme offers a journey through a dynamic urban landscape where everyone can explore art, nature and heritage for free. As part of its evolving programme, some of the world’s most respected artists including Anish Kapoor (whose sculpture is one of the biggest in the world), Tracey Emin, Gary Hume and Antony Gormley feature along the way. The Royal Docks is home to three incredible artworks by Laura Ford, Larry Achiampong and Madge Gill.
Find out more
Fragments of a Panorama
11 July – 13 Oct
arebyte Gallery
London CIty Island
As part of their ongoing project Elsewhere in India, visual artist Thiruda (Avinash Kumar) and musician Murthovic (Sri Rama Murthy) have worked with guest curator Kinnari Saraiya on this new exhibition at arebyte Gallery. Fragments of a Panorama features panoramic video projections, short films, video games, interactive experiences, and sculptures exploring cultural heritage, digital technology and speculative futures. The free opening party takes place from 6.30pm on Thursday 11 July with the exhibition’s normal opening hours beginning from 12 July.
Creative Industries Festival
4-7 September
University of East London Docklands Campus
Hosted by the School of Arts and Creative Industries at the University of East London, this festival will connect, educate, and inspire current and future creative talent and bring together the best of the UK creative and business communities. The festival will feature a host of interactive workshops, talks, panel discussions, installations, performances, exhibitions, hackathons, showcases, a careers fair, and community engagement events.
British Science Festival
11 – 15 September
University of East London Docklands Campus
For the first time since 2000, The British Science Festival will return to London this September with an extraordinary programme of workshops, films, demonstrations and exhibitions. The festival will bring pioneering researchers and leading scientists to share their work with local audiences through talks, activities, interactive events, installations and performances. Headlined by Big Manny, the festival will cover a diverse range of topics from ecosystem restoration and the role of zebra fish, to mental health post pandemic and the future of AI.
Tours and Trails
Various locations
Steeped in history with iconic buildings, striking architecture, vast open spaces, a waterfront like no other and a reputation for innovation, community and creativity, the Royal Docks has it all. And one of the best ways to immerse yourself in it is by exploring the area. The Royal Docks has trails and routes to suit all kinds of interests, from history to art, buildings to music. You can download one of the trail guides and head off on your own Royal Docks adventure.
Watersports
Dive in and explore the Royal Docks impressive waterscape. Whether you’re seeking adventure on the water or a refreshing swim, At the Docks provides an unmatched location in the capital to try out watersports. Head to Wake Up Docklands, London’s number one venue for wakeboarding, paddleboarding, and paddleboard yoga – for beginners and back-flippers alike. Or why not take the plunge and try open water swimming? At nearly a square kilometre of water, the Royal Docks is one of London’s prime spots to swim outside, against the historic backdrop of Royal Victoria Dock.
IFS Cloud Cable Car
Experience an afternoon with a difference and take to the skies in London’s only cable car! Connecting Royal Victoria Dock with Greenwich Peninsula, IFS Cloud Cable Car will take you on a ride, 295ft above the Thames, offering sweeping views of the capital and the magnificent expanse of the Royal Docks. Operated by Transport for London, its distinctive purple cabins have become an iconic feature of London’s skyline, with its stunning panoramic views across the Royal Docks enhancing its reputation as a must-see UK attraction.
