Canary Wharf has your Christmas all wrapped up

Words: Jonathan Wells

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Here it comes. Christmas — with all the bells, whistles, baubles and tinsel that inevitably go along with it. But, this year, the festive season looks to be a little different. Most notably, Christmas shopping was put on hold for the month of November — which means you may yet to have bought gifts for your nearest and dearest friends and family.

But we’ve found a seasonal solution for this frosty problem; a one-stop shopping centre stuffed with more Christmas cheer than a festive turkey. But forget Christmas dinner — because this urban hub is a higher-flying, better-furnished breed of bird. With shopping malls, light installations and some of the finest cafés and bars in the capital, Canary Wharf has flown to the rescue just in time to save Christmas.

With shopping malls, light installations and some of the finest cafés and bars in the capital...

It’s the ideal destination to dash through the snow to this Christmastime. In recent years, Canary Wharf has evolved from a financial district to a thriving artistic and lifestyle hub. There are hundreds of stores and eateries within walking distance — and, although it remains an icon of the London skyline and intrinsically woven into the cultural fabric of the city, it isn’t as busy or bustling as other shopping destinations in the capital.

In fact, you don’t even have to pile onto public transport to get to Canary Wharf. Despite sitting pretty on the handy Jubilee Line, the destination is perhaps most accessible by road — and has recently upped its weekend deal of 3 hours free parking to every day until December 31st — plenty of time to tick everyone off your Christmas list…

And you won’t have any trouble finding gifts for everyone. Boasting a seemingly endless store directory, the shops, stores and boutiques of Canary Wharf will let you pick out presents for even the fussiest of your friends and family members. You could opt for fragrances from Space NK, Penhaligon’s or Jo Malone, a quality timepiece from Watches of Switzerland, or even homewares from The White Company.

To make matters even more convenient, between the 19th and 23rd of December, Canary Wharf will be offering a free, sustainable gift-wrapping service. Just spend a minimum of £50, and you can have your present professionally wrapped. The eco-conscious approach to this initiative also highlights one of the cornerstone of Canary Wharf; the destination has been using 100% renewable energy since 2012, and sent zero waste to landfill since 2009.

But enough about winning Christmas and saving the planet; sometimes it pays to be a little self-indulgent, too. And, with the year we’ve all had, everybody deserves a spot of seasonal retail therapy. Thankfully, Canary Wharf is also suitably stocked to overhaul your own winter wardrobe; with designer labels including BOSS, Gant, Hackett, Paul Smith, Polo Ralph Lauren and The Kooples found across the malls.

There are even high street favourites — such as COS, Zara and Reiss — comfortably nestled away from the frantic frenzy of the actual high street, but still bursting with stylishly-crafted, thermal threads for winter.

But there’s more to Christmas than gifts under the tree. That’s why Canary Wharf has extended its festive offerings beyond the shops — and created a cultural celebration of the season like nowhere else in London.

If Christmas, to you, means shimmering lights and festive illuminations, you’re in luck. But you can keep your Kew Garden Christmas lights and Oxford Street switch-ons. Instead, between the Crossrail Place Roof Garden and ‘Connected by Light‘ outdoor artwork collection, there’s more razzle and dazzle at Canary Wharf this Christmas than anywhere else in the capital.

There’ll even be a live-streamed Carols & Candles Service on December 15. Add to these Christmassy events the existing artistic offerings — over 75 sculptures and installations can be viewed for free all-year-round at Canary Wharf — and you’ve got significantly more than Christmas shopping to keep your attention.

Our favourite installation of the moment? Camille Walala’s reimagining of the Adams Plaza Bridge with enchanting geometric shapes and every aspect of the colour wheel.

Which brings us to food. At Canary Wharf, every meal is the most important meal of the day — and that goes double for the festive season. So, whether that means sipping a Christmas coffee from Notes Coffee Roasters or celebrating a vegan ‘Cheesemas’ at The Vurger Co, there’s something to recharge even the weariest shopper.

There are Danish mince pies and Christmas cookies at Ole & Steen. There’s a ‘Sticks’n’Santa’ festive menu at Sticks’n’Sushi. And the cocktails? From The Alchemist’s ‘White Forest Gateau’ to The Ivy in the Park’s ‘Gingerbread Manhattan’, there’s no doubt you’ll leave Canary Wharf feeling both merry and bright.

And isn’t that really what Christmas is all about? Indulgence, comfort and finding those perfect presents for the people you love. That’s why we’ll be heading to the Isle of Dogs this weekend to kick-start our Christmas.

Because, with endless options for shopping, sumptuous seasonal menus and installations to keep the Christmas spirit alive, Canary Wharf is the full festive package. Now all you have to do it unwrap it…

Want more pointers for gifting? These are the best Christmas gifts for men (that you’ll also want)…

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