V & A Waterfront Information

The headquarters of the V&A Waterfront Company is situated on the stately Old Port Captain’s Building, once the hub of activity in the dock. On the East Quay is the restored Clock Tower (built in 1887, and housing displays on the workings of the old harbour).

Back on the west rim of the basin, however, is one of the Waterfront’s most visited attractions. The Blue Shed houses the Waterfront Craft Market, with stall after stall of arts and crafts, and a boundless array of handwork, curios and memorabilia for the enthusiastic shopper. Stallholders cater for the well-heeled tourist market, ensuring their wares are wonderfully creative and colourful, and offer a little bit of Africa to take home.

One of the most popular additions to the V&A Waterfront is the world-class Two Oceans Aquarium, a marine wonderland with transparent underwater tunnels, a touch pool and tanks that hold a fascinating array of marine life found along the Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts of Southern Africa. Displays include prismatic tropical fish, a look at the ancient coelacanth, a shark tank, a seal tank opening onto the new basin and the Open Ocean exhibit – two million litres of seawater which is home to creatures both great and small. The aquarium complex also houses a classroom and gift shop.

From the aquarium, cross the Dock Road, the heart of the old harbour and directly below the Portswood Complex you will find the treasures of the Scratch Patch. This is for the young and old alike, everyone will be delighted when uncovering the semi-precious stones hidden among the rocks and pebbles.

A few steps further on are Dock House and Time Ball Towner, once used by passing ships to set their clocks. Buses to and from the city stop on this block, and on Alfred Square directly opposite, outside the Victoria & Alfred Hotel. Across the Dock Road is the Forum Conference Centre, which handles all inquiries and reservations for some of the facilities available at the Waterfront.

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting experiences at the Waterfront is the IMAX Cinema, situate in the BMW Pavilion on the corner of Portswood Road (leading up onto the highway running into the city) and Dock Road. Projected onto a five-storey-high screen, this Oscar winning cinematic experience is the world’s largest film format, and includes multi-speaker digital sound in a comfortable wrap-around theatre.

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