Canary Wharf, Docklands, London

Its a massive financial centre which im sure most people reading this will already know. Theres lots of jobs here for people in Finance especially if youre graduates.

Theres a shopping centre next to the tube station which is ok but its not very big. Theres a GBK (gourmet burger kitchen) which is nice and a few other nice restaurants in it, as well as a few bank branches but not much else.

This is one of the largest lamdmarks in the city and whilst you cannot go up it - at the moment - it marks the modern city - neatly manicured gardens that wouldnt look out of place ina Disney theme park! I recall many years ago when the tower was open to the general public and I saw the views from the top which were very impressive. Now, its just anither tower block though there are plenty of bars and restaurants in the area with great waters edge seating - just avoid the place at lunchtime as it will be full of city workers. It also tends to get quiet rather quickly as it is more of a work place. However - if you’re at a loose end then worth a visit and the shopping centre is covered!

25 years ago this area was disused former docklands and a complete wasteland with just the odd warehouse to break up the bleakness!

Thanks to the Thatcher government of the 80’s ( shock horror!) the land was given away at ridiculous prices to companies in an effort to stimulate a new business area. 1 Canada Square was the first to be built and gradually more and more skyscrapers have been added - heaven knows what this will look like in 20 years time.

This may seem very humdrum to any US readers but this area is quite unlike anything else in the UK and most of Europe for that matter. Stood in the centre of the estate you could be in downtown NY.

Lots of great shopping is available. Pubs, Restaurants etc. I’d also recommend a visit to the Museum at the Docklands, well worth the small entrance fee

If you’re looking for sightseeing with a difference (and pretty decent shopping too), then take yourself into Canary Wharf, preferably by the DLR, to get the full “Metropolis” experience. The famous landmark is, of course, 1 Canada Square, but don’t miss Reuters Plaza, and crossing over the bridge to the real “drinking area” on the Wharf, with Browns and Bar 38 being the most decent bars.

As far as shopping is concerned, you have the Cabot Place area, with the “cheaper” end of the Canary Wharf retail experience - you’ll find fairly modestly sized units of Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, Gap, Monsoon and Next here, alongside the slightly more upmarket (Hobbs, Ted Baker). At the far end, you have a reasonably sized Waitrose, with a nod to John Lewis on two upper floors. A recently opened lower level (turn right out of the DLR station rather than left) will take you to some more boutique style units, and a rather incongruous River Island.

The second retail unit is Jubilee Place - follow the signs through to Canary Wharf underground (not DLR), and you will see directions to the other unit. This is somewhat unfairly known as the “posher” side (although a fair few of the banks that dictated that have crashed…), with Whistles, Molton Brown, and Jo Malone. There’s also a large Boots and what I can only describe as a travel-size M&S over this side.

As far as noshing on your shopping/sightseeing trip is concerned, stay over in Jubilee Place - Tiffin Bites and Wagamama come highly recommended, or if you want something lighter or healthier, have a smoothie and a “health pot” at Crussh.

A word of warning - don’t go there to shop between 12 and 2, any time on a Friday, or during half term!

Beautiful architecture! =D

its such a great building to look at and the shops are so posh to look around! worth a stop off on the docklands light railway! its easy to do.

Not much else to describe Canary Wharf as apart from tall....absolutely giant. iT's a great feeling to stand directly underneath it and just look straight up- makes you feel so small. It is part of the newly re-developed docklands, so is in a buisness-orientated area, and also right next door to the tube station, so its easy to get to. It would'nt be a place i specifically recommend you go,but if you,re in the area...keep your eye out for it!!!

Canary Wharf is a massive new development. The best known bit is the huge office building at 1 Canada Square, which is the tallest building in London, but not open to the public. But there’s also a whole complex of pedestrian walkways, shops, stations, roads (frequently under the other stuff), businesses… All this is built around a network of docks. Money is everywhere and it’s all very clean and pretty.

Personally I’ve been through a few times on long runs on my way to Greenwich. As a sweaty oik with no money I do feel a little out of place. Everybody in Canary Wharf wears a suit. Well, except for a few folks in lycra jogging round. But it’s nice lycra… It was interesting to see one of the Greenpeace ships in one of the docks. It’s also interesting to see the contrast as you pass through: this is urban regeneration, and surrounding areas are old-style East London and not nearly so affluent. If you do decide to head on to Greenwich, down through the interestingly named Isle of Dogs, Mudchute and Millwall Parks are actually surprisingly nice.

As to London Marathon’s course through here… it was a low point for me. To explain: the course takes you down to the bottom of the Isle of Dogs, then you turn and head back up, (passing 17 miles where the spectators from Runner’s World have their support point), with 1 Canada Square in view ahead. It seems like only a short way before you turn and head for the finish… Unfortunately I’d forgotten that the course then takes several turns around the Canary Wharf area. I’m sure it wasn’t really as long as it seemed, but to me it felt like I was plodding back and forth for ever and I’d never get out of there. Not helped by the fact that by the time I arrived all the suits in the area seemed to have pooled around a few pubs and were getting drunk and mouthy, with the ‘support’ sometimes sounding more like heckling. Nothing really nasty and I was probably taking things the wrong way due to tiredness, but it was still a low. After all 20 miles is the location of ‘the wall’ for many, and while proper re-fuelling does ward that off, it’s still hard going as you head towards it. Very glad when I finally turned for home for real.

As I couldn’t decide where on the 26.2 mile London Marathon Course I should put a flag, I decided it would be better to split it up… so this is one of a series of reviews I’ve done on points along the course. For the full set search using the keyword ‘FLM’