On a quaint cobbled quayside, beside the tower of Canary Wharf, this warehouse building alone is museum quality, quite apart from its interesting contents. With uneven wood floors, beams, and pillars, the museum used to be a storehouse for coffee, tea, sugar, or rum from the West Indies -- hence the name Docklands. The fascinating story of the old port and the river is told using films, together with interactive displays and reconstructions. Roaming visitor assistants are also on hand to help with further explanation and interesting anecdotes. You can follow the Docklands story through the ages right up to the Docklands at War exhibition detailing the devastation of the Blitz, and the very latest developments with the arrival of newspaper headquarters (the Times) and financial institutions. To get a feel of how much the area is on the move -- skyward as well as along the waterfront -- journey here on the Docklands Light Railway, or by boat (pick up a leaflet of timetables and quays from Tube stations). COST: £5; tickets valid for 1 yr. Tube: Canary Wharf or West India Quay DLR.