19 things to do in Canary Wharf for free (Canary Wharf walking tour with a map)
Today, I would like to invite you for a walking tour around one of the newest parts of London, a (40 year old) Canary Wharf.
Distance to cover: 3.0 miles (4.8 km)
MAPS: If you click on the maps below, a new window will open for live navigation in the field.
Part 1 (points 1-10)
Part 2 (points 11-19)
Canary Wharf is a London business district located on the Isle of Dogs, developed on the site of former West India.
It is particularly famous for its high number of high-rise buildings surrounded by water and occupied by high-profile international tenants.
But (believe it or not!) Canary Wharf is also home to the UK's largest (100 pieces and counting!) public (read FREE to see) art collection in London.
So without further ado, let's me introduce you to my 19 favorite spots in Canary Wharf!
I hope you will enjoy the read & the walk!
19 (FREE) THINGS TO SEE IN CANARY WHARF
1. The Tube & The Tear
This walk starts at Canary Wharf Station, served by Jubilee (grey) line.
The station is very airy and modern looking and provides step-free access.
The entry hall is massive, with giant escalators taking you into the main promenade.
As you come out of the station, you will be welcomed by the tall office buildings.
They will accompany you every step along this trail.
The first art you will come across during this walk is a Tear by Richard Hudson.
The droplet sculpture is located just by the entrance to the underground, and despite its sadness-provoking name (and shape), this sculpture can be a source of a rather playful experience of reflection and light.
Great photo opportunity!
2. The bandaged face of Testa Addormentata
Only few steps away from the The Tear you can see ‘Head Asleep’, the sculpture by Polish artist Igor Mitoraj.
The large scale bandaged face is one of 3 sculptures by this artist at Canary Wharf.
You can find it by the entrance to the no 35 Bank Street.
3. Jubilee Park
Jubilee Park is a lovely green oasis located just behind the entrance to Canary Wharf Station.
The park is a mix of mini waterfalls, trees, and art.
That makes it a perfect place for picnics, lunch, reading a book, exercise, or a date!
It's a small park, but it's definitely worth a visit. A very chilled place for a quiet moment.
Unlike our next stop a…
4. …Montgomery Square
Montgomery Square is a vibrant square located few steps away from the Canary Wharf Tube Station.
It is one of those places where there’s always something going on.
An exciting mix of street food markets, sport events & art!
5. Minotaur and Hare on Bench sculpture
Minotaur and Hare on Bench is a great sculpture by Sophie Ryder located next to a beautiful waterside promenade, very close to Park Drive street.
It might be the very first sculpture in London depicting an actual mobile phone (look carefully at an empty bench near the bench occupied by the animals).
Next to the sculpture, you can find a very small maze-type playground for kids.
6. Standing Figures of Man and a Woman
Standing Figures of Man and a Woman are the next art to see on this trail.
From a distance, the figures can be easily mistaken for real people.
Only when you get closer to them, that you will realize that they are slightly larger than life-scale humans.
These painted bronze sculptures by Sean Henry occupy the paving at Park Drive.
7. Confusing but cool- Traffic Lights Tree
Another reason for a visit to Canary Wharf is the Traffic Lights/Christmas Tree located at the entrance to Canary Wharf and Billingsgate Fish Market.
The 75 sets of lights (constantly flashing and changing) tent to confuse new drivers in the area (the art is located in the middle of a roundabout!).
Definitely, an eye-catching piece of art and best seen at night.
Same like…
8. … Light Up Benches
Colorful (light up) benches are located at Canada Square Park, near the place where during the winter months you can see the Ice Ring.
It is another feature of Canary Wharf best seen at night.
Rather pleasant to look at.
9. Tandem Lovers (Dogman and Rabbitwoman) sculpture
1 min walk from Canary Wharf Tube Station, you can find a wonderful sculpture of (cycling) Dogman and (drinking a cuppa) Rabbitwoman by Gillie and Marc.
Even if the art is named Tandem Lovers, there is actually a spare sit for passing amateurs of environmentally conscious cycling.
The imaginative sculpture successfully provokes many passing humans to take a photos with it.
Definitely worth a visit.
This amazing sculpture is part of the "Travel Everywhere With Love" project. You can read more about it here.
10. The most colorful 80 meters in London - Adam’s Plaza Bridge
The Captivated by Colour is 80 meters long, colorful art by Camille Walala.
The art makes the short bridge between Crossrail Place & One Canada Square look like a very long tunnel from the outside.
But as you walk along, your perspective of distances, shapes & colours changes.
Visiting this place with your camera will make wonders for your social media accounts!
11. Another green place to relax- Canary Wharf Roof Garden
The next point on this Canary Wharf walk is a fine example of an indoor garden.
The garden is located inside the Crossrail building but you can easily access it using escalators or lifts (you need to head to the top floor, the entrance is free).
My favorite part of this garden is the STORY DISPENSER MACHINE.
The machine prints out (for FREE!) short ( 1,3 or 5 min of reading*) stories on sustainably sourced paper.
* You have to press the right button to choose the length of the story.
The device uses thermal technology which means that there is no ink or cartridge involved in the process (read, there is no waste).
The stories are written by hobbyist writers from around the world.
How cool is that?!
12. Returning to Embrace sculpture
Returning to Embrace (by Jon Buck) is one of my favorite sculptures in Canary Wharf.
The beautifully shaped art shows a couple locked together like a single organism.
They are looking into each other's eyes.
A simply amazing statue.
This artwork is hidden under the canopies of the 10 Cabot Square building but is definitely worth seeing.
13. Two Men on a Bench sculpture
Two Men on a Bench is one of two sculptures in Canary Wharf by Giles Penny.
You can find it near Cabot Square.
The two men seem to be strangers even if they are seated next to each other, and they look alike.
But they sit back to back, and they fail to engage.
Why?
Why not ask the men themselves? You can hear from one of them as this sculpture is a part of the Talking Statues art scheme.
Now, let's move to Cabot Square.
14. The Couple on the Seat sculpture
Cabot Square is a lively Square in the heart of Canary Wharf dotted with many sculptures and fountains.
At the north entrance to this square, you can find bench with two alien-looking figures.
This time is a couple.
The Couple on the Seat is an inviting sculpture to take a picture with, also included in the Talking Statues scheme.
You can hear Her side of the story by following (again, on your phone) this link.
It is an excellent piece of sculpture placed in interesting surroundings.
The Couple on Seat is by Lynn Chadwick.
15. Sculpture of Draped Seated Woman
Artwork Draped Seated Women by WWII artist Henry Moore is another statue decorating Cabot Square.
The figure of an elegant woman is located on the south side of the square, at the top of the stairs, and a big fountain separates it from the Couple on the Seat.
The woman's shape isn’t regular.
She has a small head, bulky torso, and very long legs.
For sure, an interesting sculpture placed in a unique location.
16. The statue of a Man with Arms Open
On West India Ave, you can find another statue of Gilles Penny. This time is a Man with Arms Open.
The figure is looking with happiness (or despair) towards the sky.
The placing of the statue is picturesque, but a little bit occurred to take a photo with it.
So mind the traffic when passing the lanes of West India Ave!
17. The Centurione
Our next location to see is the Columbus Courtyard and the statue of Centurione by Igor Mitoraj.
This artwork will grab your attention as soon as you enter this quiet and well-hidden square of Canary Wharf. The monumental, unfinished (or destroyed?) head (or a mask?).
There are no clear answers there, but this is what makes this art so appealing.
18. Shine Your Colours & the promenade of Canary Wharf
Shine Your Colours is the artwork by Tine Bech.
You can find it between Westferry Circus and the promenade of Canary Wharf.
It is 6 transparent colored glass panels.
This multifaced installation surely will help you to see London (life& yourself!) in different colors.
The view from the promenade (you can see from there a substantial stretch of the Thames) and no shortness of benches make it an ideal destination for a walk!
19. The Clew at the Mackenzie Walk Foot Bridge
Last but not least on this walk is the circular and elegant red installation at the Mackenzie Walk Foot Bridge, called The Clew.
The Clew is made from 100 circles and it illuminates at night.
A fantastic photo opportunity as the structure is placed in beautiful scenery.
Last word…
One Canada Square, the very first skyscraper constructed in Canary Wharf, completed in 1991. Photography: An/London By An
When the very first high-rise building was completed at Canary Wharf (One Canada Square), King Charles III famously commented on it (on national television!):
"I personally would go mad if I had to work in a place like that".
Margaret Thatcher wasn't particularly keen on it either.
The Iron Lady diplomatically described it as "not quite stunning"…
…but 40 years forward and many, many skyscrapers later, Canary Wharf attracts more and more people to work, live there, or at least visit.
I hope at least some of my 19 reasons to visit Canary Wharf will convince you that the trip is worth it.
Give it a stroll!
Did you enjoy this post?
