This article is about the business district. For the property development company, see Canary Wharf Group. For the landmark tower sometimes referred to as Canary Wharf, see One Canada Square.
Developed on the site of the former West India Docks in East London, Canary Wharf contains around 16,000,000 sq ft (1,500,000 m2) of office and retail space. It has many open areas and gardens, including Canada Square, Cabot Square, Westferry Circus, Jubilee Park, and Crossrail Place Roof Garden. Together with Heron Quays and Wood Wharf, it forms the Canary Wharf Estate, around 97 acres (39 ha) in area.
From 1802 to the late 1980s, what would become the Canary Wharf Estate was a part of the Isle of Dogs (Millwall), Limehouse, and Poplar and was one of the busiest docks in the world. West India Docks was primarily developed by Robert Milligan (c. 1746–1809) who set up the West India Dock Company.
Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority was established in 1909 and took control of West India Dock. The enterprise of Sir Alfred Lewis Jones, a Welsh shipping magnate who was a prominent figure in the Canary Islands, Spain, led to a constant stream of ships arriving into London's South Quay Dock and the naming of Canary Wharf, after the ships' origin.[5] It was named after No. 32 berth of the West Wood Quay of the Import Dock. This was built in 1936 for Fruit Lines Ltd, a subsidiary of Fred Olsen Lines for the Mediterranean and Canary Islands fruit trade. It is located on the Isle of Dogs, the quay and warehouse were given the name Canary Wharf.[6]
London Docklands Development Corporation
After the 1960s, when cargo became containerised, port industry began to decline, leading to all the docks being closed by 1980.[7][8] After the docks closed in 1980, the British Government adopted policies to stimulate redevelopment of the area, including the creation of the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) in 1981 and the granting of Urban Enterprise Zone status to the Isle of Dogs in 1982.[8]
The Canary Wharf of today began when Michael von Clemm, former chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB), came up with the idea to convert Canary Wharf into a back office. Further discussions with G Ware Travelstead led to proposals for a new business district and included the LDDC developing an inexpensive light metro scheme, the Docklands Light Railway, to make use of a large amount of redundant railway infrastructure and to improve access.
The project was sold to the Canadian company Olympia & York[9] and construction began in 1988, master-planned by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with Yorke Rosenberg Mardall as their UK advisors, and subsequently by Koetter Kim. The first buildings were completed in 1991, including One Canada Square, which became the UK's tallest building at the time and a symbol of the regeneration of Docklands. By the time it opened, the London commercial property market had collapsed, and Olympia and York Canary Wharf Limited filed for bankruptcy in May 1992.
Initially, the City of London saw Canary Wharf as an existential threat. It modified its planning laws to expand the provision of new offices in the City of London, for example, creating offices above railway stations (Blackfriars) and roads (Alban Gate). The resulting oversupply of office space contributed to the failure of the Canary Wharf project.
Canary Wharf Group
In October 1995, an international consortium that included investors such as Alwaleed, bought control for $1.2 billion. Paul Reichmann, of Olympia & York, was named chairman, and Canary Wharf went public in 1999.[10] The new company was called Canary Wharf Limited, and later became Canary Wharf Group.
In 1997, some residents living on the Isle of Dogs launched a lawsuit against Canary Wharf Ltd for private nuisance because the tower interfered with TV signals. The residents lost the case.[11]
Recovery in the property market generally, coupled with continuing demand for large floorplate Grade A office space, slowly improved the level of interest. A critical event in the recovery was the much-delayed start of work on the Jubilee Line Extension, which the government wanted ready for the Millennium celebrations.
In March 2004, Canary Wharf Group plc. was taken over by a consortium of investors, backed by its largest shareholder Glick Family Investments[12] and led by Morgan Stanley using a vehicle named Songbird Estates plc.
Tallest buildings
In addition to being a leading global financial district in the United Kingdom, Canary Wharf is famous for a cluster of the tallest modern commercial complexes and residential high-rise buildings.[13] Building from scratch in early 1990s, the district is home to the first tallest iconic skyscraper, One Canada Square, in the United Kingdom. In 20 years, Canary Wharf's new rapid grown skyscraper cluster has dramatically transformed the skyline of London with modern architectures.[14][15]
One Canada Square, at 235 m (771 ft), achieved a 21-year record of the tallest building in the United Kingdom from 1991 to 2012. With its distinctive pyramid pinnacle, the building is recognised as a London landmark, and has been featured in many films and television shows.[21][22]
This table lists completed buildings in Canary Wharf that are at least 100 m (330 ft) tall.
Residential tower. The tallest residential tower in the United Kingdom and the whole of western Europe.[18] Awarded the Premier Guarantee Awards for Quality Recognition in 2021 and 2022, as well as the Excellence Award in 2021.[24] Winner of the Best Luxury High Rise Living category at the 2023 Luxury Lifestyle Awards.[25]
The first residential building ever built on the Canary Wharf private estate, which makes it stand out among the financial centre's buildings.[26] Known as "the diamond tower" due to its distinctive diamond-pattern steel exoskeleton design.[27] Winner of the Residential High Rise Development at 2021 International Property Awards.[28] Awarded Best Exterior Design (Silver) and Best Build to Rent Project (Bronze) at 2021 WhatHouse? Awards.[29]
Residential tower. Wood Wharf's flagship residential building. In 2021, won two International Property Awards,[34] two British Homes Awards,[35] and two Golds at the WhatHouse? Awards.[36] In 2022, awarded the Best Large Housing Scheme by New London Architecture.[37] In 2023, the penthouse at One Park Drive was named the Best Apartment at the Evening Standard New Homes Awards,[38] and won gold in the Best Interior Design category in WhatHouse? Awards.[39]
Occupied by Barclays as its global headquarters.[48] Currently the eighth-tallest building in the United Kingdom, it was originally planned to be 50 storeys in height, but was scaled down to 31 after the 11 September attacks.
Residential tower.[51] The first new residential development to be built in Wood Wharf.[52] Awarded a Gold award for Best Apartment Scheme at the 40th annual WhatHouse? Awards.[53]
Residential tower. The centrepiece of Harbour Central development containing seven buildings.[56][57] Also see Harbour Central Block C (Sirocco Tower).
22
One & Five Bank Street
143
469
28
2019
Commercial tower.[58] Bounded by water on two sides, this building marks the entrance to the Canary Wharf Estate.[59] Achieved a BREEAM Outstanding rating, making it one of the most sustainable buildings of its type in London.[60]European Bank for Reconstruction and Development relocated its headquarters to Five Bank Street in 2022.[61]
Residential tower. It is the first of three "Build to Rent" properties commissioned by the rental arm of the Canary Wharf group, known as Vertus.[62] Won Gold for the Best build-to-rent (BtR) Project at 2020 WhatHouse? Awards.[63]
Residential tower. Has won numerous housing and architectural awards, including: The Best New Iconic Scheme, and The Mayors award for Environmental Excellence, at the London Planning Awards in 2018.[69]
Residential / Hotel. Floors 1–12 are occupied by a Marriott Hotel.[70] Floors 13–33 house 158 apartments. 1 West India Quay was actually the tallest residential building in the UK when it was completed in 2004.[71]
33 Canada Square and 25 Canada Square together form a single complex, see above for details.
Listed buildings
As at 12 February 2023, there are 16 listed buildings in Canary Wharf of which 2 are Grade I and 14 in Grade II.[72]
Grade I Listed Buildings
Quay Walls, Copings and Buttresses to Import Dock and Export Dock: The original West India Docks consists of three docks. The Import Dock, the earliest, was opened in 1800–02, and followed to south by the Export Dock of 1803–06.[73][74]
Warehouses and General Offices at Western End of North Quay: originally a range of nine warehouses was built 1800–04 at the western end of North Quay, West India Dock Road. Only two warehouses survived the bombing raid in World War II.[75][76]
These docks with Nos 1 and 2 warehouses are now the only surviving examples of the first intensive period of London Docklands construction: 1800–10.
Grade II Listed Buildings
Most of the Grade II Listed buildings in Canary Wharf sit to the north-west of West India Dock North, and are located within the West India Dock Conservation Area.[77] In addition to architectural values, "these buildings and structures are of significance due to their association with the development of the docks and the community that grew up around them".[78]
Two rusticated Portland stone piers with a capping of four dwarf pediments and acroteria.
Former West Entrance Gate to West India Docks with Curved Walling and Bollards[83]
1900s, early
Westferry Road
1 July 1983
Stock brick curved wing walls and Portland stone gatepiers. Modern brick wall blocks entrance. Two cast-iron obelisk pattern bollards with the inscription WIDC (West India Dock Company).
Also known as Cannon Workshops, by engineer John Rennie the Younger. A rare survival of an early purpose built illustrative of the workings of the Docks Company.
A one storey, small circular building designed by architect George Gwilt. It originally formed one of a pair built by Docks Company as a lock-up and armoury.
An over 800m long electric karting facility exists within Cabot Square. The facility can accommodate up to 20 drivers at a single time. Karts can reach speeds of up to 45 mph.[106]
Squares and public areas
Canada Square
Canada Square is one of the central squares at Canary Wharf. It is a large open space with grass, except during the winter when it is converted into an ice rink. The square is named after Canada, because the original developers of modern Canary Wharf, Olympia & York, wanted to reflect their heritage. Underneath the square is Canada Place shopping mall.
Westferry Circus
Westferry Circus is on the west side of Canary Wharf. It is a garden at ground level, and below is a roundabout allowing traffic to flow through. The garden is enclosed by bespoke hand-crafted ornamental railings and entrance gates by artist Giuseppe Lund. The area has a long history, dating back to 1812, when the Poplar and Greenwich Roads Company operated a horse ferry between Greenwich and the Isle of Dogs. It operated on the West Ferry and East Ferry Roads, which the names survived. Westferry Circus was chosen as the name for the roundabout and park by virtue of its proximity to Westferry Road.
Cabot Square
Cabot Square is one of the biggest squares at Canary Wharf, with a large fountain at the centre. The inner perimeter has additional fountains covered by trees. The square has large circular glass ventilation holes to allow gases to escape from the underground car park. The square is named after John Cabot and his son Sebastian, who were Italian explorers who settled in England in 1484.
Churchill Place
Churchill Place is an area on the east side of Canary Wharf. It is named after Winston Churchill.
Columbus Courtyard
A small square on the west side of Canary Wharf named after Christopher Columbus. The first phase of Canary Wharf was completed in 1992, 500 years after Columbus arrived in America.
Chancellor Passage
A passageway south of Cabot Square. Named after Richard Chancellor who sailed with Sir John Willoughby from Greenwich on their voyage through the White Sea to Moscow.
Wren Landing
Small area north of Cabot Square. Leads to North Dock footbridge towards Port East. Named after British architect Christopher Wren.
Montgomery Square
Located at the east end of Jubilee Park, Montgomery Square is an outdoor location for socialising. Events include street food markets, beach volleyball tournaments,[107] padel tennis competition,[108] and minigolf.[109][110]
Parks and green spaces
Canary Wharf Group is enthusiastic about adding more green spaces and gardens to the dense urban environment. A total of 20 acres of landscaped parks, gardens and verdant squares complete with 1,000 trees, 4,000 shrubs and 70,000 seasonal plants are added each year.[110] Visitors are welcome to explore these parks and green spaces, which are ideal places for relaxation, social gatherings, performances, viewing outdoor public art, as well as hosting outdoor events and festivities.[111]
Jubilee Park
Jubilee Park is a 10,000m² roof garden located above Jubilee Place, a shopping mall, and Canary Wharf Jubilee Station, an underground railway station.[112] The park, opened in 2002 and was named in honour of the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[113] Jubilee Park is located in the financial district of Canary Wharf. The park's central feature is a raised serpentine water channel with rough stone walls. The curvilinear design of the water channel is intended to contrast to the scale and straightness of the surrounding buildings.[114]
In 2023, Jubilee Park won the Green Flag Award, recognising Jubilee Park as one of the United Kingdom's best parks[115]
A 4,160 m2 (44,800 sq ft) roof garden, one of London's largest, houses on the top of seven-storey Crossrail Place structure, which contains the Elizabeth line Canary Wharf station. Opened to public in 2015, it lies almost exactly on the Meridian line splitting eastern and western hemispheres. The plants originating from the eastern hemisphere are planted to the East of the Meridian line in the garden, with those from the Western hemisphere on the opposite side.[116][117]
The design and development of Crossrail Place Roof Garden was honored by winning numerous prestigious international and United Kingdom awards.[118] Selected notable awards include:
"Best Urban Regeneration Project" at 2016 MIPIM awards in France,[119] the first prize for the best "Innovative Design of a Contemporary Garden" at the 2017 European Garden Awards in Berlin,[120] and a Highly Commended accolade at the 2016 Landscape Institute Awards in the category 'Design for a Small-Scale Development'.[121]
Harbour Quay Garden
A newly opened garden, located at the strand of Wood Wharf, features a boardwalk for waterside wandering. The garden also offers family-friendly picnic spots and outdoor fitness equipment on the green lawn, where visitors can relax, view outdoor public art, and watch the water. Just around the corner, it has access to a new garden square, Harbord Square Park.[122]
Harbord Square Park
Harbord Square Park, the newest garden square in Wood Wharf, continues the great London tradition of garden squares. It is open 24/7 and offers green space available for mindfulness activities and to support nearby residents' general wellbeing.[123]
Eden Dock
In Oct 2024, in partnership with the Eden Project, the Canary Wharf group opened Eden dock. The waterfront green space can be accessed via Jubilee Plaza or Mackenzie Walk. It includes floating islands which are designed to encourage biodiversity.[124]
Shopping malls
Canary Wharf shopping centre, ranked as one of the best in London,[125] has five interconnected shopping malls: Canada Place, Cabot Place, Jubilee Place, Crossrail Place, and Churchill Place. The malls provide over 102,193 m2 (1,100,000 sq ft) of retail space, more than 310 shops from beauty, fashion, lifestyle, luxurious brands, health, and homeware, as well as 70 cafés, bars, and restaurants, eight grocery stores, five health clubs and a cinema.[126] There are also numerous bars, restaurants, and food halls at street level, alongside plenty of outdoor seating enabling visitors to see the stunning wharf and riverside views.
In 2017, an automatic monitoring station in Blackwall found that local air quality failed to meet UK National Air Quality Objectives, recording an annual average Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) concentration of 56 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre). The National Objective is set by the government at 40 μg/m3.
Alternative stations nearer Canary Wharf recorded cleaner air. Monitors at the Limehouse Link/Westferry Road junction and on Prestons Road recorded a 2017 annual average NO2 concentration of 40 μg/m3, which Tower Hamlets argue fails to meet the UK National Objective.[132]
RB1X - eastbound to North Greenwich and Royal Wharf Pier; westbound to Tower, London Bridge City, Bankside, Embankment, the London Eye and Westminster (limited service to Battersea Power Station).
London City Airport is 3 miles (4.8 km) from Canary Wharf. Over 4.8 million passengers passed through City Airport in 2018. The airport serves domestic and international destinations, including New York.[135][136]
London City Airport is on the DLR train line. Passengers from Canary Wharf can change trains at Poplar for services to the Airport.[129]
Cycle Superhighway 3 (CS3) - a commuter cycle route from Barking to West London. The route runs east–west through nearby Poplar on low-traffic or residential streets. The route is signposted and unbroken.[140]
East of Poplar, the route to Barking predominantly runs on traffic-free cycle track.
Opened in a Grade I listed Georgian warehouse by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2003, the Museum of London Docklands is one of the main attractions in the area.[143] It is dedicated to the history of London's river, port, and people from Roman settlement to the present day. The museum offers a range of activities for children and families, including interactive displays and immersive activities.[144]
Canary Wharf Group published an official Pokémon map for PokéStops and Pokémon Gyms, the managing director for retail Camille Waxer said in 2016 that Pokémon Go has serious potential to attract new audiences to the area, particularly food and drink outlets which saw an increase in foot traffic.[146]
Events and festivals
Winter Lights Festival
Incepted in 2014, the Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival turns on in January every year.[147] The public are free to visit a range of outdoor light, art and interactive installations created by artists from around the world. The festival has awarded the Best Creative Lighting Event award by the [d]arc awards in 2017 and 2019.[148][149]
The 2023 Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival was described as the largest light art festival in London.[150][151]
WaterAid Dragon Boat Race
It is an annual fundraising event organized by WaterAid, an international charity, in collaboration with the Canary Wharf Group. The funds raised through this event are used to combat the escalating water crisis that leaves people globally unable to access clean water and without a basic toilet. The Dragon Boat Race, based on a Chinese tradition dating back over 2,000 years, takes place in South Dock of Canary Wharf on summer, and is open to corporate teams of between 11 and 17 participants. In 2022, 15 teams participated the race, and the event raised £26,000.[152] With 19 teams taking place in the 2023 race, the raised funds was increased to £31,744.[153]
Festival14
Hosted by the Canary Wharf Group, the festival was a four-day event from 21 to 24 July 2022.[154] It hosted over 60 live acts including music, theatre, dance, poetry, comedy, family funs and children's activities throughout the estate. The majority of acts were free to attend, and the event transformed the estate's numerous parks, plazas, and open spaces as they hosted a line-up of artists and performers from across the world.[155] The second year of Festival14 is extended to a five day event from Wednesday 26th to Sunday 30 July 2023.[156][157]
Open water swimming
Canary Wharf has partnered with Love Open Water to launch its first outdoor swimming since summer 2022. The venue, located in the 220-year-old Middle Dock, offers 600 m2 (6,500 sq ft) of open water swimming.[158][159]
The Canary Wharf Art Trail is the largest outdoor public art collection in London.[161][162] People are free to visit more than 100 pieces of stand-alone sculptures, integrated architectural works, and outdoor art exhibiting outside buildings around the Canary Wharf area.[163] Two printed maps are regularly updated by the Canary Wharf Group for visitors to discover and identify artworks permanently on display all over the estate.
Canary Wharf Art Map: over 100 pieces of artworks, with a brief description, are numbered sequentially as to their exhibition locations at Canary Wharf.[164]
Children's Art Trail: a smaller trail of 12 sculptures and artworks for children.[165]
The Canary Wharf website provides information about Raise Your Art Rate, an ongoing event that allows visitors to explore the outdoor public art collection while exercising. The event offers 1, 3, and 5 km walking, jogging or running routes that traverse the artworks. The routes are tailored to showcase the over 100 artworks on display throughout the estate. The event is free and open to all visitors.[166]
Media
The East London Advertiser (formerly The Docklands & East London Advertiser) is a local newspaper printing weekly and also online.
Wharf Life is a fortnightly publication of 15,000 copies for Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London. An E-edition is also available.[167]