Looking for unique things to do in Canary Wharf? Look no further! Read on.
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When I think about fun in London, Canary Wharf doesnāt exactly come to mind.
But with its endless skyscrapers and a slight New York City charm I decided to take a chance and explore a new part of the city years ago, and its had me hooked ever since.
Venturing East I found tons of fun things to get up to so I thought Iād compile the best things to do and places to see for a jaunt in this shiny London corner.Ā
In this post, Iāll be sharing the best and unique things to do in Canary Wharf including secret places in Canary Wharf, things to do in Canary Wharf for free, things to do in Canary Wharf at night, places to eat in Canary Wharf and the coolest outdoor activities in Canary Wharf to make the most of your time in the area in 2022.
P.S ā Once youāre done reading, why not check out:
- The 5 Best Hotels in Canary Wharf
- Your Ultimate Brunch Guide to Canary Wharf
- Best Coffee Shops in Canary Wharf
- Your Halal Restaurant Guide to Canary Wharf
Table of Contents
The Best Things to do in Canary Wharf
Why Visit Canary Wharf?
A docklands area blitzed during the Second World war, Canary Wharf was completely transformed into a buzzing business hub. Without any major roads, itās extremely peaceful on the weekends making it the perfect outing to avoid the crowds or a lovely pitstop on your way toĀ Greenwich.
Whether youāre a local or tourist alike, youāre bound to find some fun things to do and places to go for your time Canary Wharf, however brief.Ā
Map of Things to do in Canary Wharf
In order to make the most of your time, Iāve made a Google map to download to your phone to find all the places mentioned in the post quickly. Letās continue!
For Secret Places in Canary Wharf
Ā 1. Stroll along the Crossrail Roof GardensĀ
When it comes to bringing the outdoors to the city, London overwhelmingly takes the cake. An open green space housing plants from around the world Crossrail Roof Gardens is one of those places in Canary Wharf youāll keep coming back to.Ā
In fact, itās one of the largest roof gardens in London, meaning youāve got plenty of room to wander aimlessly along all the exotic plants on offer. Depending on the time of year it also doubles as an amphitheatre with free events on year-round. Win-win.
Ā 2. Walk the Crossrail Tunnel at One Canada SquareĀ
A quick look at the Canary Wharf gram and youāll see the Crossrail Tunnel pop up more times than you can count. But sometimes the popular sights come with good reasonāand if you head to One Canada Square, youāll see why.Ā
This futuristic tunnel is a Canary Wharf staple and used for everything from light shows to music videos.Ā Walking through this gem of asymmetrical eye candy youāll feel like youāre stepping through time.
If you go at the right time you can even catch it in color!Ā
3. Visit the Museum of London DocklandsĀ
Every now and then the history buff in me needs her fill. So without hesitation I decided to pay a visit to the Museum of London Docklands. Tickets are free and itās a great way to learn about stories of London and how the docks came to be.Ā
Split between three floors itās a pleasant walk around and doesnāt shy away from some of its more shameful history, which I appreciate. From the outside youād think it wasnāt that big, but thereās a ton to see so be sure to take your time roaming the displays.Ā
Outdoor Activities in Canary Wharf
4. Roam Jubilee ParkĀ
The first thing youāll notice once you exit Canary Wharf station (which is quite striking on its own) is Jubilee Park. Perched on top of the station its unlikely location makes you feel like youāve left the city.
The quaint garden has little nooks of benches throughout, which if youāre anything like me youāll take full advantage ofāsitting down and looking up at the skyscrapers through the trees.Ā
Surrounded by sculptures and a waterfall, youāll instantly be glad you made the trip.Ā Ā
5. Visit the Winter LightsĀ
If you time your visit just right you can see Canary Wharf in its full glory at the Winter Lights. With the business district asleep the area is filled with light displays and shows that will make you feel like youāve walked into a London dystopia.Ā
I went last year with friends and couldnāt believe how fun (and free) looking at Christmas lights could be. Many of the shows are interactive so from stepping into glowing rows of stringed lights or jumping into beaming balls itās definitely one for the books.Ā
6. Take in the Public ArtĀ
One of the things youāll effortlessly do in Canary Wharf is take in the amazing public art on offer.Ā The Canary Wharf Group put a lot of effort into adding artistic charm to the financial district, and it shows.Ā
Commissioned from across the world Canary Wharf is dotted with beautiful sculptures, paintings and mosaics in all kinds of unlikely places.
But if I had to choose, stumbling across the Two Men on the Bench had to be my favorite.
If the art buff moves you thereās even a handy map of all the displays throughout the area so you wonāt miss a thing.Ā
Read More: Your Coffee Shop Guide to Canary Wharf
For Places to Eat & Drink in Canary Wharf
Ā 7. Go Back in Time at the Breakfast ClubĀ
If you truly want to feel like youāve stepped into the 80ās movie, head to the Breakfast club. Inspired by the iconic film the cafeās filled with disco balls, retro booths and a very snazzy breakfast menu to match.
Slowly but surely itās become my brunch go-to for Canary Wharf. So if youāre looking for a fun way to start your day in the area donāt forget to pop in.Ā
Ā 8. Gorge on Godiva at Jubilee PlaceĀ Ā
Because in Canary Wharf fashion, it wasnāt enough to simply have a tube station. In fact, if you venture through Jubilee Gardens youāll soon find your way down to Jubilee Place Mall.
An underground haven of sorts, filled with all the shopping and food staples you could ask for (Hello Nandos). But Iāll let you in on a secret.
If you go down on the ground floor youāll find the absolute best hot chocolate to ever meet the city (or at least Canary Wharf). Pop into Godiva and treat yourself with a hot chocolate or two before carrying on for the day. My personal favorite is the Hazelnut Praline Hot Chocolate with coconut milk. Itās to die for!Ā
9. Get American at Big EasyĀ
No matter how many years I live abroad, Iāll never stop craving some good ole American grub. Which is why when I heard of Big Easy, I immediately had to book a table (yep, it gets that full).Ā
A Bar.B.Q & Lobstershack theyāve got everything from home smoked B.B.Q to yummy frozen slushy cocktails with all the Southern interiors to match. I usually get the Home-Smoked B.B.Q Taste-O-Rama leaving the American in me very, very satisfied.Ā
The building itself is massive, overlooking the entire area. So for an added bonus pick the right seat and take in sweeping views over Canary Wharf with your meal.
Read More: Hotels in Canary Wharf, 5 Places Worth Your Stay
10. Get a Taste of Street Food VansĀ
If youāre anything like me, a bit of wandering is sure to give you the munchies. Cross over the South Quay Footbridge and youāll find yourself surrounded by Canary Wharfās best street food.Ā
Donāt let their humble exteriors fool you. Street Food Vans has some of the best filling and well-priced finds Iāve seen in a while. Especially for a business district. But alas, travel blog bias must ensue, and you have to try Munchies Cubano sandwiches.Ā
For Fun Activities in Canary Wharf
11.Ride a Hot Tub Through London with Skuna Boats
Itād be hard to find a more unique thing to do in Canary Wharf (or in London really) than riding a hot tub through the city.
The floating boats play off the Scandinavian tradition of keeping warm no matter the weather. Fitting up to 7 people at a tasty 38Ā°C youāll pass by Canary Wharf locals and get a sightseeing experience of the area like no other. You can read more about the experience here.
12. Do the Electric Shuffle
If youāre looking to unwind in Canary Wharf, Electric Shuffle might be calling your name. The live shuffleboard experience is great for big groups (up to 32 people!) with delicious food & drinks to match.
You can read more about the experience here.
13. Relax at Everyman CinemaĀ
Fair warning. If you go to Everyman Cinema your standards for movie theaters may never be the same. I had heard of lifestyle movie theaters beforeāthe kind where you trade your fizzy soda for red wine and enough recline to put airlines to shame. But I didnāt expect how much Iād absolutely swoon over the experience.Ā
With a new approach to cinema the food and drink selections are top notch, and the customer service makes it feel like your personal theater.Ā
Watching Hustlers while feeling like a literal queen never felt so good and out of all the things to do in Canary Wharf, this is definitely how youāll want to end your night in the area.Ā
14. Get Your Sweat on at Bikram YogaĀ
One fateful Groupon led me to a free class at Bikram Yoga and I havenāt regretted it since. Get your sweat on at Bikram Yoga with one of their hot yoga classes. Now Iāll admit, this may not be for everyone as the heat can get intense, but Iāve never felt so good after a fitness class.Ā
The staff and members were super kind and helpful (even for a newbie like me) and out of all the places to go in Canary Wharf, this would definitely give you a reason to keep coming back. And of course, get your sweat on.Ā
15. Grab a Pint at Meantime Brewery TourĀ
Still patiently on my bucketlist is the Meantime Brewery Tour. Not open at the time of writing but if you get a chance you can spend a few lazy hours sipping away on Londonās best craft beer. One of the more booze filled things to do near Canary Wharf, you might want to save this for last.Ā
Fueled by liquid passion the tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable, plus theyāve got a rich lunch menu!Ā Ā
16. Skate at the Ice RinkĀ
Although thereās no shortage of things to do in London for the holiday season, ice skating at Canary Wharf is definitely up there. And I personally believe chilly evenings in London can always be remedied through a winter skate. With twinkling skyscrapers as your backdrop, itās a must-try if youāre heading to Canary Wharf in winter.Ā
You can beat the crowds with a morning skate, or if youāre feeling romantic, catch the sunset on the ice.Ā
17. Explore CrossharbourĀ
Of course, out of all the places to go in Canary Wharf I couldnāt end this post without talking about Crossharbour. In fact, this is where I used to live not long ago!Ā
A hidden island dockside only a stoneās throw away from Canary Wharf, Crossharbour is a quiet oasis from the city, and easy to see in a day. From grabbing a bite along the river to wandering Mudchute Farm itās a lovely local gem.
Well, there you have it. All the fun things to do and lovely places to go in Canary Wharf. I hope you make the most of your time on this side of the city!Ā
If you liked this post donāt forget to read up on the best coffee shops and cafes in Canary Wharf and the best hotels in Canary Wharf and the best brunch spots in Canary Wharf.
Happy exploring,
