This Guided Walk looks at three pieces of engineering that have influenced East London history, threading its way through an area that has slowly been evolving for the last 30 years. The Royal Docks were the largest docks in the world when built. We will look at their construction, the goods that were traded there, and hear about the docks in wartime and the numerous plans for redevelopment since their decline. The Thames Barrier, built as a response to the horrendous floods of 1953, today keeps London safe without many Londoners giving it a second thought. We’ll view it from Thames Barrier Park, one of London's best kept secrets. We’ll then see some of London's largest surviving factories, before finishing with an optional but recommended trip across the Thames for free on the new solar-powered Woolwich Ferry.