Area Guide: Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf is the heart of big business in London and the location of some of the tallest and most impressive buildings in the UK.

Known as the financial area of the city, Canary Wharf is home to some of the largest companies in the UK. In the week the streets are filled with busy businessmen and women whilst the weekends welcome tourists and locals looking for something fun to do.

With so much to do and see, let’s explore everything you need to know about Canary Wharf!

The Area:

Canary Wharf sits at the North end of the Isle of Dogs. Its Northern boundary is lined by the A1261 (Aspen Way) and sees The River Thames lying to both the East and West.

Known as the financial district, Canary Wharf is home to the world's biggest financial companies

Nestled between the Limehouse and Poplar districts, there are a number of docks within the Wharf itself, providing a bit of open space to contrast with the towering glass and steel skyscrapers.

Getting Around:

Covering just 0.15 Sq Miles, Canary Wharf can be very easily traversed on foot. There are also a few alternative ways to get the area including a local tube station, The DLR (Docklands Light Railway) and a number of London bus routes. With great transport links, you will have no issue in getting in and around the district.

Travelling by river is also a possibility, with Thames Clippers running from Waterloo and Woolwich four times an hour in peak hours. Shuttles also operate from Surrey Quays and London Bridge.

As with most places in London, parking is both very sparse and at a premium. Therefore, if possible avoid travelling by car unless you are being picked up or dropped off.

Eateries:

Canary Wharf has a number of restaurants packed into the small footprint of the district. You’ll find the standard chains like Pret A Manger and Nandos, but also a selection of diverse and higher-end eateries.

You can often reserve seats and it is highly recommended around lunch and dinner time, as the towering buildings will empty of people in search of food.

[caption id="attachment_27666" align="alignnone" width="580"] Image by - Richard Southall[/caption]

In the mid-range, the always excellent Wahaca should be high on your list. Co-founded by the 2005 winner of Masterchef, Wahaca elevates traditional Mexican street food to mouthwatering levels. The cocktails are also imaginative and delicious if you fancy a liquid lunch!

Our restaurant recommendations include:

ROKA

Enjoy a contemporary dining experience with the amazing ROKA restaurant. With spectacular views and great tasting Sushi and Japanese cuisine, this is the perfect place to meet with friends and enjoy something a little different.

Plateau

Elevated above the bustle of Canary Wharf, Plateau offers elegant French bistro dishes on the 4th floor of the glitzy Canada Place building. With an open kitchen and chic interior, this place offers a real buzz and should be a firm favourite for a fancy lunch.

One Canada Square

Set at the foot of the iconic Canary Wharf skyscraper, One Canada Square is a modern European restaurant and cocktail bar, with stylish dining in a stunning art-deco space. Open for breakfast lunch and dinner and serving up bottomless brunch on weekends there really is no excuse not to visit!

Nightlife:

Although mainly known as a business district, rather than a nightlife hotspot, Canary Wharf does have a few nice spots to wind down after a busy week.

As mentioned above, Wahaca is great for food, but also a reasonably-priced and buzzing location for a few evening cocktails. Give the Tamarind Margarita a go for something a bit unusual.

The striking waterfront Big Easy is a great place to grab a few drinks with a well-stocked Rum Lounge. As the name suggests, expect USA-style theming and plenty of sticky-finger BBQ snacks to complement your drinks!

Our top bar recommendations include:

Wahaca

Whether you're looking for a quick drink or a night filled with tasty cocktails, Wahaca is the place to go. The bright and funky interior makes the perfect backdrop to enjoy a night entertaining your friends and with a big cocktail menu and 2-4-1 offers, what more could you want?

Big Easy

With sweeping views over Canary Wharf and live Blues music 7 nights a week, The Big Easy is undoubtedly a hotspot for drinks and celebrations in Canary Wharf. Complete with a rum lounge and its own stage, there is never a dull moment, so if you're looking for a night full of entertainment, be sure to stop by.

28 West Bar

Situated along the Riverside, 28 West Bar is a stylish lounge bar and the ideal venue for any occasion. Whether it's afternoon drinks, weekend brunch or a special occasion, you should definitely plan a visit and enjoy one of the best bars in the area.

Shopping:

Managing to squeeze more than 300 shops in the 0.15 sq miles of Canary Wharf, you could easily spend a day engaging in retail therapy.

Expect to see high-end fashion and expensive stores filled with high-quality goods. However, if you’re shopping on a budget, you will find big high-street chains like Topshop and Zara peppered between the Jaeger Londons and Hacketts.

Canary Wharf has five shopping malls - Canada Place, Cabot Place, Jubilee Place, Crossrail Place and Churchill Place Shopping Malls. As such, we recommend planning ahead if you want to get into every shop you want to see in a single visit.

Working in Canary Wharf:

A business operating from Canary Wharf will certainly be in good company. Huge organisations like HSBC, Morgan Stanley, KPMG and Barclays are all headquartered in the district. However, there is plenty of room for non-financial businesses in the hundreds of offices to rent in Canary Wharf.

With over 16 Million square feet of office space, you will be spoiled for choice. Canary Wharf is best suited to businesses which enjoy a corporate environment and neighbours.

Looking for an office in Canary Wharf?

With access to the best serviced offices in Canary Wharf, we can help you to find the perfect office space. Our team of experts are here to understand exactly what you need and secure the perfect new home for your business. Whilst we have hundreds of great spaces on offer, here are a few of our top picks for Canary Wharf:

Canada Square | E14

From £554 per person/pm

Find out more.

Bank Street | E14

From £800 per person/pm

Find out more.

Indescon Square | E14

From £450 per person/pm

Find out more.

These are just a few of our available office spaces. Contact our agents today to find out more about our other available business centers.