Canary Wharf Serviced Apartments

Canary Wharf Guide

Canary Wharf is one of the most exciting, vibrant areas of London. Uniquely for this history-rich city, it has been designed and built from scratch only in recent times. It has a global reputation as a fast-paced, hard-working business centre, but it is not just a place to work. Visitors and residents have excellent accommodation options, and can drop into buzzing bars and pubs, enticing restaurants and stylish shops.

Popular locations

Canary Wharf is at the top end of the Isle of Dogs, with Limehouse and Poplar to the north, and Docklands to the east. Development in the area has centred on Canary Wharf itself, but the regeneration of this once dilapidated part of London has extended in all directions. Across the river lies historic Greenwich and Rotherhithe.

Canary Wharf and Docklands are part of London’s Central Business District, together with Westminster and the City of London. But business is no longer what Canary Wharf is all about. New residential developments are home to city workers, young families and people at later stages of life. After all, it is a great place to live!

Part of the attraction of the area is water. The mighty River Thames curls round the Isle of Dogs, and Canary Wharf retains old dock basins which reflect the towering modern architecture to dramatic effect. For a memorable stay in Canary Wharf, you can’t beat a waterside apartment.

Another important plus point for Canary Wharf is that it is very safe. Crime rates are exceptionally low, so whether you are walking home or night or leaving your home unoccupied for a spell, you can be confident that you and your belongings are unlikely to be troubled by crime.

Getting around

Transport was a key part of the plans for regenerating Canary Wharf and the surrounding areas. The London tube and overground rail connections date back to an earlier era, and continue to serve various stops around this part of London. There is also the newer Docklands Light Railway (DLR) built to serve the flourishing business and residential communities.

The bus network adds another option for getting around, as does Transport for London’s River Bus which connects Canary Wharf to Greenwich and Westminster. If you head over to the Royal Docks in Docklands, you can even board a cable car for a spectacular sky-high ride to Greenwich. And of course, you can go under your steam on foot or by bike (but keep an eye out for London traffic). Canary Wharf is also only a few miles from London City Airport which operates a busy schedule of national and international flights.

For weekends

For a weekend escape Canary Wharf offers the chance to immerse yourself in modern, stylish London living. Stay in an ultra-modern, high rise apartment with spectacular views. Indulge in a shopping spree in chic boutiques, and eat out at some of the capital’s most stylish and eclectic restaurants. Book in to a show or sporting event at the O2, take your pick of nearby museums. There is no shortage of ways to fill your weekend in Canary Wharf itself, but it is also so easy to get to all of central London’s attractions too. If you’re planning a weekend away in London, Canary Wharf deserves to be at the top of your list.

For families

With a comfortable family apartment to stay in, parents and children are perfectly set up to visit attractions everybody will love. Top choices include Mudchute Farm, an urban oasis for farm animals and would-be farmers on the Isle of Dogs. The whole family will also love a flight over to Greenwich on the Emirates Cable Car, and a thrilling walk over the domed roof of the O2.

For something completely different, have a fascinating stroll through the exotic roof gardens of Crossrail Place. You can keep everyone well fed at a family-friendly restaurant, or eat street food from a market stall. For physically active families, you can learn how to paddle board in the shadow of the areas iconic skyscrapers, or play ping pong or a leisurely game of mini-golf.

There are plenty of nearby attractions for the whole family such as the Cutty Sark at Greenwich, the Museum of Docklands, or a trip to the top of the Shard, London’s tallest building at nearby London Bridge.

Tips for moving to Canary Wharf

As with any home move or relocation, it is definitely worth spending time in Canary Wharf to make sure that it lives up to your expectations. It is a unique environment, certainly in UK terms, with a character all of its own. Most accommodation is in modern purpose-built apartments, but there are pockets of more traditional houses and refurbished buildings. The type of home you opt for may be down to your personal preferences and your budget and also to what is available at the time of your move.

Day visits are one thing, but to get a deeper feeling for the area it is a good idea to spend some weekday and weekend nights there. A short term serviced apartment is an ideal base for exploring any area, and getting to know exactly where you want to live. A hotel stay cannot deliver the same experience, because it will not involve shopping for daily food and essentials.

Unless you are living alone, it is vitally important to involve your partner and your children if you have a family. Again, the best way for them to understand what it is like to live in Canary Wharf is to book time in a serviced apartment.

You also need to research access to healthcare. The area has plenty of GP surgeries but you need to understand how easy it is to sign on with them. Guy’s Hospital on the south side of the river is in easy reach and is a major London teaching hospital. It also has accident and emergency departments for children and adults. There are also a lot of private healthcare options which may be better suited to your needs.

For families, the issue of schools is also top of the agenda. There is a good selection of primary schools on the Isle of Dogs, but secondary education is more limited. There are also schools with international orientation which could be suitable for families relocating from overseas.

The next topic on your moving checklist should be transport. Canary Wharf residents can choose from many options for getting around by rail, bus or even river. London taxis and hail-riding apps such as Uber operate in the area too. For air travel, London City airport is close by. In other words, Canary Wharf is very well connected.

But what about cars? Many of us are used to having a car on the drive to head out whenever and wherever we want. Some Canary Wharf accommodation comes with parking. However, if you don’t have your own parking spot, there is limited public parking available, and finding somewhere to leave your car can be either frustrating or expensive or both. If you only need a car occasionally, hiring one for the weekend is not only more convenient than ownership, it can also be much cheaper.

Another important exercise to go through before you move is to declutter. Whenever you move home a ‘life laundry’ session is always a good idea, but it is even more so if you are moving from a larger home into a city apartment. Just make sure you will have enough room for your belongings. If you don’t, slip them into storage or give them away or sell them on neighbourhood sites. Alternatively take them to a charity shop or the municipal recycling centre.

One thing you won’t need to worry about in Canary Wharf is technology. You are bound to have first-class internet access and speeds, as well as cable communications. That is just one of the many advantages of living in this thoroughly up-to-date part of London.

Places of interest

In Canary Wharf itself there is plenty to see and do as we have said above. Nearby Greenwich, home of the Greenwich Meridian and the Naval College is well worth visiting. Tate modern is a short trip over to the south bank of the river and the continual programme of events and shows at the O2 are worth checking out. For business events and exhibitions, the ExCeL centre in Royal Victoria Dock is now London’s largest and most important venue. But one of the key reasons for staying in the area is that you are so close to a glittering parade of world-class attractions throughout London.

Heading towards the centre of the city you come to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, a remarkably intact monument to royal power and intrigue spanning almost a thousand years of history. The spooky charm of the London Dungeon is nearby. For food lovers, a visit to Borough Market, just south of London Bridge is highly recommended.

Keep heading west to arrive at bustling, charming Covent Garden and serious shopping in Regent Street and Oxford Street. You can follow leafy Piccadilly to arrive at Green Park. A stroll across the park takes you to the gates the Queen’s London residence, Buckingham Palace.

A walk through St James’s Park will bring you to Parliament Square and the iconic buildings of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben (whose proper name is the Elizabeth Tower) and the Houses of Parliament. On the other side of Westminster Bridge, the giant wheel of the London Eye offers bird’s eye views of the city and far beyond. Then getting back to Canary Wharf can involve a trip by river bus, tube or taxi.

That’s one itinerary through London, and there are endless further places and attractions to explore. Make your base at Canary Wharf and you will be a great position to enjoy everything London has to offer.

Restaurants, events and entertainment

Canary Wharf has a great of restaurants and bars and pubs serving food. There is no one dominant style, and you will be able to find plenty of traditional, fine dining and ethnic options. Many are beautifully designed and in stunning waterside locations, making meals out in Canary Wharf a real pleasure. If you prefer to eat in your apartment, you can arrange for delivery from a multitude of tempting menus.

Events and entertainment range from performances in the areas public spaces to major productions at the O2. Away from the area, London’s West End theatres are a major entertainment hub and are easily accessible by taxi or public transport.

Further comprehensive current information on Canary Wharf events, eating and entertainment can be found at www.canarywharf.com.