Pelican Stairs

Pelican Stairs are stone steps beside the Prospect of Whitby pub that descend directly to the water's edge. They connect the riverbank to a sheltered inlet where the Thames meets the shoreline.

Built around 1520, these steps were essential for watermen who ferried people and goods across the Thames in earlier centuries. The structure reflects the importance of river transport in London's past.

The stairs sit beside a historic pub where writers and notable figures met for centuries, drawing people to this corner of the riverbank.

The stairs are easy to reach on foot by walking east from Wapping Overground Station toward the Prospect of Whity pub in the neighborhood. Water levels change with the tide, so timing your visit around low tide helps you explore the beach area.

A wooden gallows with a rope still hangs over the Thames beside the stairs as a reminder of when pirates faced execution at this location. Few visitors realize this structure marks one of London's more somber chapters in river justice.

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

GPS coordinates: 51.50698,-0.05115

Latest update: December 15, 2025 13:25