The Isle of Dogs, also known as ‘The Island’ by local residents, only has two road routes in and out and occupies the largest loop in the Thames and despite years of development and with the gleaming towers of Canary Wharf on its northern boundary, it remains proud of its working-class Docklands roots.

Two iconic views define the Isle of Dogs; the rural scene of grazing cows and sheep at Mudchute Park and Farm set against the backdrop of Canary Wharf skyscrapers, and the grand, classical panorama of the Old Royal Naval College across the river in Greenwich to the south.

The most southerly point of the Isle of Dogs is five miles south-east of central London with Canary Wharf to the north. Across the Thames, there’s Greenwich Peninsula to the east; Greenwich to the south and Canada Water and Rotherhithe to the west.

The property scene

Homes on the Isle of Dogs range from Twenties dockers’ cottages to Victorian terraces in Coldharbour and Mellish Street; estates of social housing to Eighties and Nineties low-rise riverside schemes; a few warehouse conversions such as Burrells Wharf, and now thousands of new flats in flashy towers are being built close to Canary Wharf.

Development on the Isle of Dogs was historically a mix of low-rise estates of houses and flats with a few warehouse conversions but a new wave of residential towers, including some of the tallest in the country, are rising in Marsh Wall, the road dividing the Isle and Canary Wharf.

First was Pan Peninsula, Ballymore’s towers of 48 and 38 storeys, in 2009. Baltimore Tower followed, its twisting floors overlooking Millwall Inner Dock.

Now Berkeley Group is building over 1300 flats in South Quay Plaza; EcoWorld Ballymore has over 700 flats at Wardian; Galliard is selling over 600 new homes at Harbour Central and Chalegrove Properties’ Landmark Pinnacle offers close to 1000 homes.

Lifestyle

Canary Wharf shopping centre offers a wide range of designer shops, restaurants, and cafes. There are street food stalls in West India Quay and South Quay. Millwall Inner Dock, off Harbour Exchange Square, has lunchtime sandwich shops and there is a new jazz bar and restaurant.

Residents can also access the Greenwich foot tunnel which is a short walk into Greenwich town centre.

Open space

Mudchute Park and Farm is 32 acres of rural England in an urban setting, created on the spoil tips from the building and dredging at Millwall Dock. Sir John McDougal Gardens in Westferry Road has a newly installed outdoor gym. The Thames Path, running round the edge of the Isle of Dogs, is popular with lunchtime runners.

Schools

Primary schools: Canary Wharf College / Canary Wharf College Glenworth / Cubitt Town infants and junior schools / Seven Mills / Arnhem Wharf / St Edmund’s RC / Harbinger / St Luke’s CofE.

Comprehensive: George Green’s / Canary Wharf College Crossharbour.

Travel

The local stations include Mudchute DLR, Island Gardens DLR and Crossharbour DLR. All stations are in zone 2.

Postcode

The Isle of Dogs falls under the E14 postcode is part of Tower Hamlets council.