Beckton is an urban neighbourhood in east London, England and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is located 8 miles (12.9 km) east of Charing Cross. It was unpopulated marshland adjacent to the River Thames until the development of major industrial infrastructure to support the growing metropolis of London was built in the 19th century. Housing was created in Beckton for workers of the gas and sewage works. Between 1981 and 1995 it was within the London Docklands Development Corporation area which caused the population to increase as new homes were built and the Docklands Light Railway was constructed.