Woolwich Ferry in the context of "Docklands Light Railway"

The London Borough of Newham (/ˈnjuːəm/ ) is a London borough created in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. It covers an area previously administered by the Essex county boroughs of West Ham and East Ham, authorities that were both abolished by the same act. The name Newham reflects its creation and combines the compass points of the old borough names. It is 5 miles (8 km) east of the City of London and north of the River Thames (the Woolwich Ferry and Woolwich foot tunnel providing the only crossings to the south within the borough). Newham is bounded by the River Lea to its west and the North Circular Road to its east.

Situated in the Inner London part of East London, Newham has a population of 387,576, which is the third highest of the London boroughs. It is the 25th most populous district in England. The local authority is Newham London Borough Council.

London River Services Limited is a division of Transport for London (TfL), which manages passenger transport - leisure-oriented tourist services and commuter services - along the River Thames in and around London. It does not own or operate any boats itself, except those on the Woolwich Ferry, but licences the services of operators.

The Thames had been used as a common means of transport in London for centuries, but use died off in the early 1900s, as transportation was enhanced (and river traffic somewhat blocked) with a proliferation of bridges and tunnels. With these numerous north–south crossings of the Thames, which is generally no more than 300 m (980 ft) wide as it flows through central London, the revival of river boat services in London therefore mostly travel east or west along the Thames rather than across it; the only major cross-river ferry services can be found further downstream where the river is much wider, and there are far fewer bridge or tunnel crossings.

The North Circular Road (officially the A406 and sometimes known as simply the North Circular) is a 25.7-mile-long (41.4 km) ring road around the northern half of inner London. It runs from Chiswick in the west to North Woolwich in the east via suburban north London, connecting various suburbs and other trunk roads in the region.

Together with its counterpart, the South Circular Road, it mostly forms a ring road around inner London, except for crossing of the River Thames, which is done by the Woolwich Ferry.