
Moli Life Magazine |
| Welcome to Canary Wharf |
| Welcome to London! We here at MoLi hope that you’ll enjoy your stay – however long or short. |
| Getting around |
| The flat itself is located close to the historic West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs. |
| Out and About |
| Canary Wharf may be more plexiglass heaven than a museum galore |
| Eating and Drinking |
| The Grapes looks the way people who have never been to England think a pub looks like. |
| FYI (For Your Information) |
| The emergency number in England is 999. |
| Shopping ‘til you’re dropping? |
| Below is a handy index of the brands and shops found around the Canary Wharf malls. |
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Welcome to Canary Wharf a useful guide
Welcome to London! We here at MoLi hope that you’ll enjoy your stay – however long or short. To help make your life that little bit simpler, we’ve put together a useful guide to the Canary Wharf area of the city. Built on the site of busy 19th century docks, the area is still fairly business-oriented. Early mornings, groups of suited businessmen flock to the numerous banks, media headquarters and offices located in the area. However, with business always comes pleasure, and recent developments have seen Canary Wharf bloom into a modern, cosmopolitan centre for shopping, dining and leisure. Carefully manicured green spaces are dotted around the area,and the modern architecture contrasting with the older buildings makes for a really pleasant area to stay. Whether you’re visiting for work or play, the guide below will give you a helpful oversight of the area, from helpful travel tips to popular dining destinations. For any further questions or advice, please email reservations@houseofmoli.com or phone +44 (0) 203 051 6819. Getting around
From airport to Canary Wharf If travelling from Gatwick, an express train (www.gatwickexpress.com) will take you to London Victoria station. From there, the east-bound District line will take you to Tower Hill, where you can change to the DLR for Crossharbour. A train a rather fussy option from Stansted airport; your best bet is a National Express coach to Stratford (see www.nationalexpress.com) From there, you can navigate the DLR to Crossharbour – just make sure to pay attention to which branch of the line you’re on! Heathrow is located west of the city, therefore your trip to Canary Wharf might take a bit longer. The cheapest option is to take the Piccadilly line straight from the airport. Change at Gloucester Road for the Circle line, then again at Tower Hill for the DLR to get off at Crossharbour. Otherwise, you can take the Heathrow Express (www.heathrowexpress.com) to Paddington, from where you can also take the circle line down the same route. As it is located practically in Canary Wharf itself, City airport is a piece of cake – just take the DLR straight to Crossharbour. The journey should only take about 25 minutes.
Perhaps the most practical (and, with Oyster, cheapest) option for getting around is via the London underground network. The DLR connects to five major underground lines, allowing easy navigation to other parts of the city. Change at Tower Hill for the Circle and District lines, or at Bank for Northern and Central. A recent extension to the Jubilee line means you can also change at Canary Wharf for quick access to London Bridge, Waterloo and the South bank. Hate the stuffy crowds on the tube? A bus (or two) will take you anywhere in central London, so if a top-deck view outweighs a slightly longer journey time, then this could be a convenient and more budget-conscious option. For example, to get to the shopping delights of Oxford Circus, take the D6 bus to Bethnal Green station, and then the route 8 bus – you’ll get there in an hour and a half. For the classy downtown glamour of Soho, bus D6 will take you to Mile End, where you can take Bus 25 to Holborn. Or, to beat the shrewd business crowds to the London Bridge area, take the D6 to All Saints, where the route 15 bus will take you to Monument. For those who prefer to be in control of their own destinies, there are a number of car hire options in the area:
Out and About
Canary Wharf may be more plexiglass heaven than a museum galore (like South Kensington) or an air-conditioned Mecca of designer labels (like Westfield), but it’s got class, convenience and location on its side. The business focus of the area means that you can beat the central crowds of tourists and still enjoy yourself. Shopping is a big deal around these parts. Several new malls have sprung up above Canary Wharf station exuding the nouveau-architect sensibilities of polished chrome and manicured trees. An array of shopping choices ranging from groceries to jewellery ensures that you can spend an entire day inside, blissfully unaware of the outside world. Head to French Connection for some high-street chic, pop into the Getty Images gallery for your own photographic oeuvre, or simply chill out in Waterstone’s with a decent novel.
Canada Square Park is where all the action is this summer. The Summer Screen has been set up amid carefully manicured lawns and colour-coded flower bunches to show dedicated onlookers, or simply passers-by, anything from classical opera to the Grand Prix trournaments. Events take place all the way through July and best of all it’s all completely free! Music fans who have never been to London, or even heard of Blur, will be familiar with the O2, the venue at the forefront of every Important Gig to ever visit the capital. If you don’t feel like forking out £70 to watch Madonna gyrate on stage, visit the much more informative and entertaining British Music Experience on its top floor. Think of it as the Hard Rock Café crossed with the Science museum. Geek out over David Bowie’s pants or take a few guitar lessons – until August 2010. For a spot of art, look no further than the Window Galleries. With frequently changing exhibits, the galleries feature up-and-coming artists showcasing everything from painting to textile design and sculpture. In 2009, some of the artists include Emma Lundgren’s fantastic folklore costume designs and Jacqueline Cullen’s surreal and unusual jewellery crafted from rare fossilized wood. Eating and Drinking
The Grapes looks the way people who have never been to England think a pub looks like. It’s old (built in 1720), with a creaky sign out front and serves seasonal seafood upstairs and typical pub nosh down below. With a bit of luck (okay, a lot of luck) you can get a seat overlooking the river. Far classier and authentic than your average pub, the punters are civilized and there isn’t a fruit machine in sight.
The Gun is a two-storey resto-pub which looks like it belongs on a beach in Bournemouth. Dark wood décor and starched linen table-cloths make this a happy mix between a posh lunch establishment and a docklands-theme restaurant. The food has long names and lots of ingredients, and the wine list is extensive. Probably the best restaurant in the area is little taste of Lebanon, Byblos Harbour. Minimal interior and floor-to-ceiling windows mean loads of breathing space while you sample the dishes. The hot and cold mezze are delicious, and great to share between many so that everyone gets a taste of treats lke aubergine hummus with pomegranate seeds or char-grilled chicken. Great value for money, too!
Of course, Gordon Ramsay could not overlook a district as heavily kitted out in Hawes & Curtis neckerchiefs as the Docklands. His gastropub, The Narrow has been generally complimented and recommended since its takeover of a 19th century brewery. The food is high-profile and a selection of obscure ales and beers (Deuchars, Banana Bread, Meantime?) is available throughout the year. FYI (For Your Information)
The emergency number in England is 999. There is no specific fire/police/ambulance distinction. If something is wrong and you need to contact a member of the MoLi team, please get in touch with your Check-in contact, whose details you would have been given prior to arrival. The nearest hospital is unfortunately quite far; St Andrew’s is located on Devas St in Bow (E3 3NS / tel: 020 7476 4000). If going by tube, the station is Bromley-By-Bow A dentist can be found in the building. Otherwise, a BUPA dentist can be found at 16, North Colonnade, E14 4EU (tel: 020 7302 2740) For medical or sanitary essentials, a Boots pharmacy is located by Heron Quays DLR station. The address is Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf, E14 5NY (tel: 020 7519 6187). Here you’ll also find hygiene essentials, cosmetics and a prescription service. For groceries, there is a Tesco’s inside the building, where you will find most essentials from food to necessities. For a wider choice to suit all tastes and budgets, the malls around Canary Wharf station include supermarkets Waitrose (Canada Square), M&S (Jubilee Place) and Tesco Metro (Cabot Place) Shopping ‘til you’re dropping?
Below is a handy index of the brands and shops found around the Canary Wharf malls. Maps are signposted all around the area, so the different malls should be easy to find.
Opening times: Mon–Wed: 09.00–19.00 Thu–Fri: 09:00–20:00 Sat: 10.00–18.00 Sun: 12.00–18.00
Note: (P) = Promenade Level
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The flat itself is located close to the historic West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs. The eastern location means convenient travel via the DLR (Docklands Light Railway), as well as busses and taxis, to reach the heart of the city. If staying for business, however, most key buildings can easily be reached on foot.
From Canary Wharf to everywhere
Finally, to get around by taxi, try Airportstar (tel: 020 7345 5020) or Central Mini Cabs (tel: 020 8472 9898)
Converted from an old church, The Space has now reinvented itself and parked in the middle of the Isle of Dogs as the foremost venue for indie theatre, classical music, innovative dance numbers and £3-a-pop comedy. Occasional family workshops are held, and the line-up changes frequently. Pick up a flyer or visit
Appropriate to its historic credentials, the docks are home to the Museum of London Docklands, a pint-sized establishment which often hosts some rare and well-assembled exhibitions. Usually a throwback to the 18th and 19th centuries, the museum has covered subjects like Jack the Ripper and slavery. To find out about current exhibitions, visit
The malls around Canary Wharf station are a perfectly convenient antidote to indecision. With everything under one (giant) roof, you’ve got a few meters’ choice between a quick sandwich and a fancy three-course meal. The Slug & Lettuce (55, Mackenzie Walk) is a medium-fancy restaurant beloved by local yuppies, while Wagamama (Jubilee Place) is a quality noodle bar for a quick taste of Japanese flavours. For more information, see
For the owls out there, The Four Seasons Hotel serves classy Italian food until 10.30pm each day. With a terrace overlooking the river and a special Tuscan Brunch available on Sundays, it’s matches its location in both style and a sense of innovation. Reserve a table to avoid disappointment and pop into the on-site spa for maximum pre-dinner aahhh…