To get to Trinity Buoy Wharf or the Bow Creek lighthouse as it is also known, unless you’re driving, is a bit of a baron journey from either East India DLR station or Emirates Royal docks DLR/cable car station. Either way you arrive, the lighthouse and surrounding Container City can be reached by walking along busy, ugly roads and then finally down a series of quiet, empty streets. Do not let this put you off though because you’re in for a treat.
Trinity Buoy Wharf is one of London’s hidden, tranquil spots. The area around the lighthouse consists of the Container City which is a studio and office complex made up of recycled sea shipping containers and Fatboys’ Diner – a 1940’s style American diner used frequently as a film location.
Once inside the lighthouse, go right to the top where you have a beautiful view of the Thames. Being quite far down the river there isn’t as much river traffic and on a sunny day the Thames can feel more like a lake then the bustling river full of tour-boats further upstream. The lighthouse is home to The Longplayer which is a one thousand year long musical composition which due to technology and some very clever musicians will not repeat for the whole thousand years – I’m not 100% sure what the actual point of it is but it does create a nicely eerie atmosphere in the otherwise usually silent lighthouse.
