finding europe in london - leg 13
From: Brussels Wharf
To: Finland Street
DISTANCE: 2.8 miles
TOTAL DISTANCE: 13.8 miles

Directions
Retrace your steps back up Wapping Wall and keep on it as it becomes Glamis Road again.
Follow the Thamespath all the way to the Ferryport at Canary Wharf and jump across the river to the Doubletree by Hilton.
Take a left onto Rotherhithe Street and then a left onto Salter Street. Take a left onto Norway Gate then a right onto Plover way, followed by a left. Keep following the pedestrian path and you'll find yourself on Findland Street.
map
finland street
What's it got to do with Finland?
Greenland Docks (the big bit of water you just ran past) was the centre for trade with Scandanavia in the 19th century. Many ships also went whaling in Scandanavia and then brought the goods back to the yards around the docks.
There is still a thriving Finnish community here and you can find a Finnish church round the corner on Albion Road.

What's happened here?
These docks were heavily bombed in WWII (remember, that horrid time when Europe fought against each other, rather than work together? Sorry, I promised myself not to get agro in this tour). It was repaired, but the shipping industry moved to favour containerisation - the ships were too big for these docks.
Finland and the EU
Finland have been part of the EU since 1995 and a founding member of the Eurozone. Though it accounts for just 1.1% of the EU population, the EU strongly supports their agriculture industry and the growth of their rural areas.