Don’t miss a dose of dockside beauty

The new coffeeshop at Expressway, Perky Blenders x Goodvibes, has only been open a few months but is already a centre of gravity. The renovated Crystal Building gardens right outside make a good spot to sit with a coffee to go – an instant favourite for people who’re out and about. You’ll spot small impromptu picnics, and families with kids enjoying a runaround on the grass.

The development of the Royal Docks is a story that keeps unfolding. Looking up, faces are pressed against the glass as the Emirates Air Line cable cars glide overhead, with a view of the River Thames that has something new to spot every time. A walk along the dock’s edge, away from the bars and the activity and towards the derelict and fascinating Millennium Mills, is a reminder of how much there is to explore: Silvertown Quays will soon be transformed come, but for now it belongs to the birds and the imagination.

Sunset at Royal Victoria Dock and the cool air takes on a glow. Even at ground level this is a refreshing, wide open space, with a subtle scent of rosemary and lavender in the gardens. On the path by the dockside, you’ll spot people tottering out onto the pier in their wetsuits for a much-anticipated swim. ThankfullyLove Open Water hope to reopen next week. Out in the water, it might feel like you’re far from anything resembling a busy city, but there’s a constant soft hum in the distance to remind us that we’re in one of the most fascinating places in the city.