Greenwich: Tube to DLR
 

I hope someone will doublecheck this:

To visit Greenwich (via the Foot Tunnel), one takes the tube to Bank or Tower Gateway and then the DLR to Island Gardens? But is the connection from tube to DLR quite straight forward? And I believe Oyster is used on both.

Thank You for any corrections and advice. (I want to go under the Thames, not on it!)

Oysters are valid on both - at Bank it's all in the same station but it is a huge huge interchange station where you could walk a bit IME. Towr Gateway may be easier but I have not taken that way.

If I am not mistaken if you take the DLR from Tower Gateway you will need to change line to the DLR heading towards Island Gardens.

However if you take the DLR from Bank it is a direct ride all the way to Island Garden.

As mentioned by PalenQ, the Bank is a huge station and Tower Gateway is easier to navigate.

Bank is direct, Tower Gateway usually necessitates a change for Greenwich.

Btw, you do know Greenwich has a DLR station and you don't have to use the tunnel?

I realize that it has been ages since I did this transfer, Tower Hill Underground to Tower Gateway DLR, but at the time it required 2 blocks of street walking and a lot of stairs from an underground to an elevated rail system (and also a separate ticket). Are these stations now somehow connected?

No they are not connected, but they are really not that far apart and it is not a big deal, though in the OPs case it makes more sense to get the DLR at Bank anyway.

The Greenwich Foot Tunnel can be a treat for something weird - one of the world's oldest if not underwater pedestrian tunnels - originally built to take folks to work in the former Docklands - but as RM says the DLR now goes under the Thames to Greenwich and beyond to Lewisham, where there is a connection to the Overground rail line to London too.

Thank You for all the support - I'll plan on using Bank Station.

And RM67, I really want to use the Tunnel. At least one way. Thank You!

Not sure who would use the Tunnel today except tourists with the DLR doing it effortlessly but here are some images of a unique experience - yes the tunnel is rather a small tube.

>>Not sure who would use the Tunnel today <<

People who live here who want to get to the other side. Depending on where you live it's easier to walk through than use the DLR.

Just curious - there ain't much on the Island Gardens side when I was last there - some years ago - except an ASDA (WalMart) box store - where do folks walk to on the other side?

Thanks

I find it very convenient to walk to Greenwich for a change.

I'd imagine there are people who live in Greenwich who have friends and family to visit on this side, and there's "local tourism" to the park and city farm.

When I walked through the tunnel last spring there were lots of others - and I assume most were locals. Lots of bike riders -

biek riders I can see but again where in the vicinity of Island Gardens entrance would folks walk to - has there been a spurt of new development in the few years since I've been down there>

Of course bikers would take the Tube (tunnel) and not the Docklands Light Railway - maybe the walkers walk to Canary Wharf - not that far just for exercise and because IME the DLR cars can become seriosuly overcrowded at times.

I guess there are more residences than I remember per Patrick's 2nd comments.

Its probably been many years since you walked through the tunnel. New elevators, a small park a couple of cafes (maybe more since I only sat watching dog walkers and such for a few minutes before walking to the DLR station) . . . and LOTS of homes.

>>has there been a spurt of new development in the few years since I've been down there<<

From the tunnel through to Island Gardens station, it does look rather open, what with parks and school playgrounds, but sometimes it feels that you've only to turn round and there's another block going up. There is much local concern about over-development, and that local transport, schools and doctors' surgeries aren't going to be able to cope with the new residents.

Hello, I'm the OP and just wanted to thank all of you for the DLR advice. Worked perfectly and was an easy Oyster trip. I did go the Bank to Island Gardens route. Loved the tunnel (5 minutes and there was a guitarist halfway thru). Initially uncertain about doing it at all, your sound knowledge served me well.
Thank YOU!