Shad Thames, London

From widefield

When the Shad Thames warehouses were completed in 1873, it was the largest warehouse facility and one of the most prosperous areas of London.

The warehouses (the largest is Butlers Wharf) were used to store tea, coffee and spices after unloading from ships.

Gradually though the ships had to start uploading further and further east, and the activity declined. The last warehouse closed in 1972. For the next 20 Shad Thames was one of the most rundown areas of Central London.

Now it has been redeveloped into bars, flats and restaurants and is a nice place to wander around.