People
My love affair with the Royal Docks
Local resident, Momtaz Begum-Hossain may already be a familiar face. Her work has featured in titles such as The Stylist, Cosmopolitan and Elle. She is not only a talented content creator but also an award-winning journalist, a presenter, an arts and crafts expert and a certified Colour Therapist and Happiness Facilitator. She has collaborated with big name brands including Timberland, Magnum, Tatty Devine, Speedo and Gudrun Sjosden, amplifying their products and campaigns with the power of colour and happiness!
My love affair with the Royal Docks began when I went to view a flat in Beckton. Just like magic, as the DLR approached Royal Albert, the water came into view beside the airport runway and at that moment my heart began to sing - what was this incredible place?
I had visited the Royal Docks before, checking out ExCeL London, taking a ride on the IFS Cloud Cable Car and enjoying a colleague’s birthday dinner at Nakhon Thai. However, I always thought of it as more of a destination to visit rather than a place to call home. An hour after the viewing I called the estate agent and asked, ‘when can I move in?’.
Cycling around the Royal Docks.
Being near water has so many benefits. The fact I can leave my flat and be by the docks within a few minutes means I can clear my head or watch sunrise and sunset with a killer view whenever I want.
But that’s just one aspect of the wellbeing benefits the area offers. I love that living here has transformed my health, fitness and wellbeing. My week is scheduled around the activities in the Royal Docks. Twice a week I attend free women’s fitness classes at Diesel Gym. I do kundalini yoga at Beckton Globe Library plus meditation classes at the Museum of Happiness, which is upstairs in the Wellbean Café.
Fitness class at Diesel Gym and leading an Open Cities walking tour.
Being near water has so many benefits. The fact I can leave my flat and be by the docks within a few minutes means I can clear my head or watch sunrise and sunset with a killer view whenever I want.
Momtaz Begum-Hossain
At the weekend I have so many more local options. I have also discovered open water sports at the Docks. Earlier this year, I tried dragon boat racing, and I am now a member of Windy Pandas, a London Dragon Boat club. We train on Saturday mornings 10am-12.30pm and on Wednesday evenings during the summer.
On Saturday evenings I attend a women’s boxing club, also at Diesel Gym which is an amazing workout. That coupled with walks around Beckton Park and cycling up and down the docks has led to me giving up the gym membership I had for over a decade.
I would describe the Royal Docks as secret, special, and quiet. You can get away from it all here. A lot of the time it doesn’t feel like London. It’s great seeing Canary Wharf in the distance, knowing you can be in town very quickly which is amazing.
With the Windy Pandas Dragon Boat team and next to the Rainbow Bridge in Royal Albert Wharf.
On a warm, sunny day nothing beats sitting on the top deck of Heroica Lounge, (a converted double-decker bus) tucking into a soft doughy pizza while watching the world go by. It feels like being on holiday! I also love getting a take away from the street food trucks outside the Good Hotel and eating it in the floating garden. I often enjoy working remotely on my laptop at the WellBean Café where I can enjoy delicious vegan food. I start with fresh orange juice with overnight oats followed by a tikka bagel for lunch. Their iconic thick hot chocolate is also a great tea-time treat!
Last year I trained with Open City to become a Golden Key Academy Walking Tour Guide for the Royal Docks. Since then, I’ve designed a three-hour walking tour of Royal Albert Dock. The docks have so many unique and interesting stories. From runaway tropical spiders to beaches with faux palm trees, the area is rich in stories from the past and present. It’s been great introducing friends and family to the area. Some have also returned with their children for plane spotting.
Now, I’m excited about the Beckton Park Masterplan including the wildflower meadow. People adore the wildflowers at the Tower of London, but I think we’ll have something to rival it. I’m sure Instagrammers will be flocking to the Royal Docks when the flowers are in full bloom! I’m also interested in the developments around Royal Albert Wharf which is on my doorstep and the longer-term Beckton Riverside regeneration.
I would describe the Royal Docks as secret, special and quiet. You can get away from it all here. A lot of the time it doesn’t feel like London. It’s great seeing Canary Wharf in the distance, knowing you can be in town very quickly which is amazing.
It will be great to have more green spaces, restaurants, and places to sit and enjoy the views. The Royal Docks will then have even more to offer visitors from North Greenwich when they arrive via the Cable Car.
It would be amazing to see the Royal Victoria Docks beach and lido all summer long. It would be the perfect place to bring friends, chill on the deckchairs and enjoy the stunning views.
I love meeting other residents and working with the local community. I currently run monthly Mindful Crafts workshops for adults at the Museum of Happiness, upstairs at Wellbean Café. For more information and to book, visit my Eventbrite page. For a daily dose of Colour and Happiness, you can also follow me on Instagram. Tickets are donation based and all money raised is donated to the charity CALM.
