Backpackers Guide to London

Canary Wharf

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Introduction

At the center of what was then London’s Docklands is the Canary Wharf. It then served as freight port. However, as its economy went to recession during the 1980’s, developers stopped their operations. Efforts were done for it to be redeveloped but those were not sustained. The remnant of those short redevelopment efforts is the Canary Wharf Tower.

History

Canary Wharf was known initially as the Rum Quay because of its trade with the West Indies. The Wharf was renamed after one of England’s most important trading partners at the time, Spain’s Canary Islands, located just off the coast of Africa. The Canary Islands were the source of bananas, tomatoes and other products that the Fred Olsen Line brought to England’s shores.

The Future of Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf holds the record for being the largest single office development in the world. Its tower was the largest building in Europe. Today, tourists can also see other highly sophisticated structures that are being constructed in the area. It is slowly turning out to be the newest business district of London, and is foreseen to be the home of several blue chip organisations. The Canary Wharf Tower however, is not open for public sightseeing.

Despite such strict security policy to the Tower, tourists can still enjoy accommodations in the Cabot Hall, whose shops and restaurants hold numerous arts and cultural programmes.

There are plans for Jubilee underground lines to be extended to the area via the south bank of Thames. If the plan pushes through, commerce will definitely boom. At present, the Docklands Light Railway serves the commuters here via their ferries.

Weekends are the best time to visit Canary Wharf. As you explore it, you will experience a solemnity and quiet that you wouldn’t normally expect from a bustling trade hub. And that is part of its appeal. While the Canary Wharf may not seem like a typical tourist destination, it is an excellent way of seeing a new side of London.

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