Curling out from the heart of London city, into the twists and turns of the River Thames, is an island known as the Isle of Dogs. Fascinating to the core, its title brings with it a tale as old as time itself. The history of the Isle of Dogs, situated just north of Greenwich on the Thames, is steeped in the folklore of London’s East End. The tale goes that when King Henry VIII wanted to enjoy a spot of duck hunting in Greenwich Park, he would send his dogs across the river to scare the ducks to flight. Dogs would swim across the river, causing the ducks to rise and making them easy targets for the king and his men. In the meantime, the dogs would be left to roam this piece of land until the king returned to retrieve them, leading it to be known as the Isle of Dogs. Another theory suggests that the name might have come from a corruption of other names it was known by, such as the Isle of Ducks or Dykes. Regardless, the name stuck and the Isle of Dogs became a vital part of the city’s artillery. Over the centuries, it has seen the rise and fall of industries, the daunting World Wars, and the magnificent view of the ballooning London skyline. While the dogs are no longer seen swimming across, the Isle holds its spot, cradling stories of a time long past, and bearing its legend with silent pride.