Top 5 Things to do in Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf is one of the main business and financial hubs in London. It is home to some of the world's largest banks and media organisations. But it is not just business at Canary Wharf, for you will find numerous bars and restaurants, a couple of large shopping malls, well-kept gardens & green spaces and beautiful riverside walks. If you are visiting Canary Wharf, there is lots to see and do.

High Rises

Canary Wharf has always been one of the skyscraper hotspots of London. Until the completion of the Shard in 2012, One Canada Tower in Canary Wharf was the tallest building in the UK. The high rises in Canary Wharf are mainly used for offices though there are a few retail units as well. These skyscrapers are an intrinsic part of London's skyline and to date continue to receive attention from locals and visitors alike. It is definitely worth a visit to see these spectacular, tall buildings up-close.

Canary Wharf Crossrail Roof Garden

The Crossrail station is set to open in 2018 but a shopping development and roof garden opened earlier this year above the proposed station. The roof gardens are accessible from ground level via lifts. It has a beautiful lattice design with openings in the centre and on the sides to allow light and rain water in. Solid spruce beams form the main part of the enclosure. The geometric complexity and the architectural innovation make this roof garden a very beautiful enclosure. My parents loved the place. We had visited the roof garden around 3-4 months after it was opened to public and the plants were young then. I am sure it would look spectacular when the plants mature. It is like an oasis of beauty and tranquillity in the midst of the concrete jungle. You can bring your own lunch and have a mini picnic in this beautiful green space.

Public Art

Did you know that Canary Wharf has one of the UK’s largest collections of public art? Created by some of the most inspiring artists of our time, the art pieces (stand-alone as well as art integration with architecture) can be found at various locations in Canary Wharf. One of my favourite art installations is the bronze 'Couple on Seat' by Lynn Chadwick which can be found in Cabot Square. My second favourite is another bronze work called 'Two Men on a Bench' by Giles Penny which is located near Cubitt Steps. If you love art, then you can spend the entire day on an art trail locating all the 65 art installations in Canary Wharf. You can pick up the Art Map from information points around Canary Wharf.

Surrey Docks Farm

A beautiful, working farm right in the centre of London. How cool is that? Situated on the south bank of the river Thames in Rotherhithe, the farm rears herds of goats, sheep, geese, cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, bees and donkeys. The farm is an excellent place to learn about farming and food production and if interested you can also get involved in the work at the farm. There is also a small shop where you can buy fresh farm food (eggs, vegetables etc.) The farm also has a café. It is a great, little farm and a must-visit if you are in the area. Kids will love it.

Museum of London Docklands

The museum is just two minutes walk from West India Quay and has roughly around one million items in the its core collections. The collection includes paintings, photos, textiles, ship models and objects from pre-historic, Saxon, Tudor and medieval London. The items in the ten permanent galleries of the museum depict the history and growth of the Docklands area. There is a free tour of one of the galleries daily at 2.15pm. And at 3.30pm there is a free object handling session. Entry to the museum is free. If you love history, then this is a very informative museum albeit with a lot of reading.