Greenwich Peninsula

It's dominated by the modern O2, but North Greenwich and the Greenwich Peninsula have a fascinating history. As a flood prone peninsula, the North Greenwich area remained undeveloped until the 19th century, when industrial development swept the area.

Industrial history

With good access to the river for importing and exporting goods, it became a thriving home to rope making, cable making, and the manufacture of soap, linoleum, gas and other industries.

The first cable to span the Atlantic was manufactured in North Greenwich, and Alcatel still manufactures international cable at Enderby's Wharf.

Other industries have come and gone, as have residential developments. Some of the first housing, in the Riverway area, has been preserved, providing a reminder of what it was like in the early 1800s.

Current history

The Millennium Dome was built to celebrate the Millennium celebrations in 2000. It was later transformed into a world-class entertainment venue and renamed The O2. The O2 hosted some events in the 2012 Olympic Games.