Royal Docks Plan Bold Floating Park and Lido

London’s Royal Docks could gain a vast floating park with a lido, spa and sauna under proposals linked to a £5 billion regeneration scheme. The project would stretch across 12 hectares of water, creating what could become the capital’s largest park built on a dock. Early designs show landscaped greenery, seating areas and space for art installations and cultural events.

Next to the park, plans outline a floating wellness centre set directly on the water. The facility would include a public lido for swimming, alongside a spa and sauna. Proposals also mention a floating residential community with moorings and homes. The scheme forms part of long-term investment in the Royal Docks area, backed by the Mayor of London’s regeneration programme.

Public consultation on the latest proposals is expected later this month. If approved and funded, early construction stages could begin in 2030. The wider regeneration has already seen significant change across the docks, aiming to create an accessible waterfront district. Local leaders describe the next phase as focused on leisure, wellbeing and bringing more life to the water itself.

The Royal Docks already draw visitors with waterside attractions, including the IFS cable car linking the area with Greenwich high above the Thames. Dock Beach returns each summer, transforming part of the waterfront with imported sand. Wakeboarding, rowing, sailing and paddleboarding are established activities, and a large floating park would add a new public space for walking, swimming and open-air events.

If the plans go ahead, the docks would move closer to becoming one of London’s most unusual outdoor destinations. A park and lido built on water would offer a setting rarely found in the capital, especially in the east. The project is still years away, yet it signals a shift towards using urban waterways as everyday spaces rather than overlooked backdrops.