Limehouse Basin Lock

Limehouse Basin Lock sits where the Regent's Canal meets the Thames and manages water levels between the two waterways. The structure uses gates to raise and lower boats safely between the shallow canal and the tidal river.

The current lock was built in the 1980s to replace an older, much larger ship lock used during the era of cargo transport. This earlier structure was designed to handle big commercial vessels moving through the basin.

The lock marks where the Regent's Canal reaches the Thames, connecting neighborhoods through London's working waterway system. Today, leisure boats and residents use this route much more than commercial traffic ever did.

The lock is managed by the Canal & River Trust and operates year-round for boats to pass through. You can walk alongside the canal to reach it and watch the regular activity of boats moving between the two waterways.

One original gate from the old ship lock still stands next to the new structure, showing how massive harbor infrastructure once was. This remnant lets visitors directly compare two different eras of London's waterway development.

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

GPS coordinates: 51.51010,-0.03669

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:44