The original entrance to the Limehouse Cut was from the River Thames with no direct connection from Limehouse Basin, but this was changed when the new entrance was constructed in 1967-8. Remains of the old entrance can be seen by walking past the new Thames Lock and turning left along Narrow Street (Street names in the Limehouse area are subject to change - currently Narrow Street is the road that passes over Thames Lock)

Entering the Limehouse Cut it is apparent that this was a purely commercial waterway that makes little allowance for the cruising visitor. That is not to say that it isn’t of interest, and as it is short this doesn’t present any problems, but after the Regents Canal or The Lee it does come as a bit of a shock. The towpath is usually several feet above the water level and it is not possible to get close alongside the wall at all points if the water is at the lowest maintained level. There are chains looping along and it is quite possible to hook these with a boathook, tie a rope on and use a boarding plank from the roof of the cabin if required. This is only mentioned because there is a LIDL supermarket just over Burdett Road bridge and it may be necessary to get supplies urgently. The next supply point is Tesco’s at Three Mills Lane, beyond Bow Locks.

The only ‘commercial’ traffic likely to be encountered is either a trip boat or possibly a BW tug towing a dredgings lighter. The off (northern) side of the channel was (summer 2000) shallow, but in summer 2001 the water level was higher and much less mud was visible. Keep an eye on the propeller wash, and if it’s showing a bit of creamy mud swirling just move further over towards the towpath side.

There are a mixture of old disused warehouses, housing estates and brand new commercial and residential developments, making for an interesting passage.

VANDALISM
It would be unfair to brand this area as any worse than others, but it must be said that there is occasionally some stone throwing at the eastern (Bow) end of this waterway, and as Limehouse and Bow Locks offer better moorings anyway, it is not recommended to plan an overnight mooring anywhere along the Limehouse Cut. A lot of problems with youngsters can be minimised by having a camera or mobile phone to hand and highly visible. You don’t actually have to take a picture or make a call, but they don’t know that!

At the end of the transit the waterway passes under the Blackwall Tunnel Approach Road by a long dark bridge with no towpath, but the waterway then opens out and the Bow Locks Offices and workshops appear on the right. There are often several unusual craft moored here, dredgers, tugs, etc. and the Locks are at the end of the peninsula. Modernisation was completed in 2001 and now only one chamber is operational, but the overall effect is that the water levels are now maintained more evenly. (In the past, Bow Locks were kept open at each end for up to 4 hours on each tidal cycle and the water levels fluctuated with the tides).

Passage through Bow Locks to or from Bow Creek must be booked in advance.

Beyond Bow Locks the navigation becomes the Lower River Lee (or Lea) Navigation.