Keep in touch

The Line is London’s first dedicated public art walk. Connecting three boroughs (Newham, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich) and following the Greenwich Meridian, it runs between the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and The O2 on Greenwich Peninsula. The Line features an evolving programme of art installations (loans and commissioned works), projects and events, illuminating an inspiring landscape where everyone can explore art, nature and heritage for free. Use our MAP to discover our exhibition programme, and the wealth of wildlife along the route and its extraordinary history.

Wheelchair users

There is one section on the River Lea that isn’t accessible for wheelchair users, however we have highlighted an alternative route on our downloadable map.

Audio content

We have produced audio tours with artists and experts that interpret our exhibition and engagement programme. These can be listened to on our digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app.

Subtitled video content

All the videos hosted on our website include subtitles.

Guided walks

• Wellbeing walks
• Saturday introductory walks
• Bespoke walks for groups with specific needs can be arranged. Please get in touch via email or phone.

Further information

We are currently implementing recommendations from an access review to improve and enhance the experience of The Line for all visitors.

If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, or audio recording:

• email – info@the-line.org
• call – 020 3488 9250

If you have any other queries or require any assistance ahead of your visit, please call or email us and we’ll be happy to help.

There are no dedicated toilet facilities for The Line however we have highlighted cafes on the route in our MAP that have toilet facilities for customers.

Please be aware there are stretches of the route between cafes so please plan accordingly.

To walk the entire route of The Line takes approximately 4 hours, depending on how long you spend with artworks and stop at cafés on the way. You can walk The Line in one go or visit different sections on different days. One of the joys of The Line is that it’s constantly changing – different seasons, times of day and tides mean it’s always worth a return visit. We have a downloadable map here. The route is highlighted with blue and red vinyl markers to help you find your way.

It is completely free to experience The Line. There are two sections where you need to pay to travel: North Greenwich and the Royal Docks are connected by the London Cable Car, which is a cable car that takes you over the Thames. The Royal Docks and Cody Dock are connected by a short DLR journey (Royal Victoria to Star Lane). Click HERE for our map and download written directions from this page.

There are many transport options and links to The Line. You can arrive by underground, overground, bus, boat, cable car or DLR. Santander Cycles are available at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (only).

If starting at the North of the route, travel to Stratford (accessible by underground, overground, DLR or bus). If starting at the South, travel to North Greenwich (accessible by underground, bus or boat – Uber Boat by Thames Clipper). The London Cable Car is the cable car that connects North Greenwich and the Royal Docks, which is also accessible by DLR and bus.

Please use our interactive MAP when planning your route – as well as during your visit! – or print our downloadable MAP and bring this with you. We also have written directions. Look out for signage and blue/red vinyl markers to help you on the route itself.

Absolutely! There are sections of the route that are more complicated to navigate by bike but it’s possible to take your bike on the DLR between Star Lane and Royal Victoria, which makes this section easier to follow. It’s also possible to take your bike on the London Cable Car when travelling over the Thames. We ask cyclists and pedestrians to respect one another on narrow towpaths. If you would like to hire a bike, Santander Cycles are available in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to explore the northern section of the route.

Yes! The Line has a free digital guide with the Bloomberg Connects app. Hear directly from exhibited artists talking in-depth about their works. Discover more about the history, nature and architecture of The Line as Bill Nighy takes you on a guided tour of the route. Take a moment for yourself with three specially commissioned mindfulness guides. The Line is yours to explore. Click to download.

The Greenwich Meridian is the line that separates east from west in the same way that the Equator separates north from south. It is an imaginary line that marks zero degrees longitude. The Greenwich Meridian is important as it marks the starting point of every time zone in the world.

The Line is free, open and accessible for everyone to enjoy. Visit on your own or in a group. Commute or walk to school along it, make it part of your exercise routine or travel across the world to visit. The Line welcomes local residents, Londoners, tourists, families, bird-watchers, cyclists, dog-walkers, art-followers, runners, ramblers and anyone else who enjoys an adventure. The Line also develops learning programmes for schools and teachers to use The Line as an outdoor classroom. Spending time in nature and experiencing art at any age improves your health and wellbeing. The Line is a great place to escape and connect to culture and the outdoors in East London.

The Line introduces monumental, sculptures by leading international artists to the footpaths of East London’s waterways. You can find more about artists on The Line HERE. Many of these works had previously been hidden away from public view, in storage or private collections. Artworks are predominantly 3D, freestanding sculptures, though The Line’s programme also includes film, performance, light and sound installations and exhibitions of 2D artworks. The Line collaborates with major cultural partners on the commissioning of new artworks and you can read more about these projects HERE.

The inaugural loans, which included Damien Hirst, Eduardo Paolozzi and Thomas J Price, came through an open submission and were selected by a panel that included Turner Prize-winning artist Mark Wallinger, curator Omar Kholeif, art critic Richard Cork and Simon Myers, local resident and founder of Cody Dock. The Line’s programme is now curated in-house, with support from The Line’s curatorial advisors, Artwise.

The Line was co-founded by Megan Piper and the late regeneration expert Clive Dutton OBE (1953-2015). Their ambition was to connect two of the most important regeneration sites in London (Stratford and Greenwich Peninsula) with an outdoor exhibition programme that encourages locals, Londoners and visitors to the capital to engage with modern and contemporary art, whilst discovering this lesser-known part of the city, its wildlife and heritage. Read more about The Line’s story HERE.

The Line was initiated through a Spacehive crowdfunding campaign that raised over £140,000 in less than eight weeks in 2014. In the subsequent five years, it ran without public funding through a mixed income portfolio of corporates, trusts and foundations and donations from the public and private donors. The project’s success has also been underpinned by the phenomenal in-kind support it has received from its founding supporters, including architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Click HERE to see who has funded The Line and find out how you can support The Line HERE.

The Line is a Community Interest Company (CIC) and in 2020,  became a registered charity (Charity no. 1190073). It is run by a very small team with support from a board of Advisors and Trustees. It was set up as a CIC in 2013 and until 2019 worked with charity partners to secure support and deliver projects.

The Line relies on philanthropic and corporate support to deliver its core activities, which include its exhibition programme as well as building and maintaining programmes with schools, local communities and partners. The Line is able to continue its work thanks to donations from the public, patrons and businesses, and the generous support of all its lenders and friends. If you would like to support The Line please donate HERE.