In the heart of the financial district, and home to London’s towering skyscrapers, Canary Wharf has more to it than a business community; it also has a rich history
Canary Wharf, be it day or night, is a symbol of just how spectacular London is. Its towering skyscrapers – including the second tallest UK building, One Canada Square – are lit up at night along the river as a testament to The City’s financial fortitude. Their towers dominate the skyline, proudly marking the location of one of the world’s economic powerhouses.
The famous skyline is also a nod to one of the most ambitious and successful worldwide regeneration projects. What we now know as Canary Wharf covers over 14,000,000 square feet of offices, shops, stores and restaurants. It used to be West India Docks, on the Isle of Dogs and was one of the busiest ports in the world. The port began to decline in the 1950s as goods began to be transported by air rather than sea. Instead of leaving it to rack and ruin the government looked at ways it could revitalise the area and give it new purpose. The business district was born.
Now Canary Wharf is home to some of the world’s major banking and media firms including Barclays, Thomson Reuters, KPMG, Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. It is a popular destination for relocation, largely because of the firms that call it home and their international profiles, meaning it welcomes new staff from all over the world who need somewhere to stay while they work at Canary Wharf for a period of time. Just because it’s a business district, however, doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer in terms of lifestyle.
There are plenty of stores, both independent and chain, which line the streets of Canary Wharf. Designer labels rub shoulders with high street names. A mixture of bars and restaurants offer a wide range cuisines and styles. For the culture lover there are visual arts venues and festivals exhibiting throughout the year. Cultural events are held throughout the year to entertain visitors including outdoor theatre, festivals for children, outdoor cinema screen s in the summer along with food markets and sporting events. There are jazz festivals, theatre festivals, even the City of London Festival.
For those looking to travel around the capital from Canary Wharf it sits on the Jubilee Line, as well as the Docklands Light Railway. There is direct access to both North West London and Waterloo.
Clarendon has a wide range of Serviced apartments in Canary Wharf, ideal for the business traveler looking to sample some of the neighbourhood’s lifestyle. From studios to one and two bedroom apartments developments include Lanterns Court, Discovery Dock East and Ability Place. Each is located in the heart of Canary Wharf, a short walk from its Canada Square as well as bars and restaurants and Jubilee Shopping centre. Explore the apartments with a virtual tour allowing you to choose the right apartment to suit your needs.