eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife eastendlife

4 WWW.TOWERHAMLETS.GOV.UK THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR TOWER HAMLETS PRODUCED BY YOUR COUNCIL Wrap up well and head out with Graham Barker on his walk this month around the illuminations, architecture and docks of . Photos by Mike Askew. Walking in a winter IT’S a wonderful time of year to walk around Canary Wharf, espe- cially after dusk. With festive lights, an ice skating rink, and plen- wonderland tiful opportunities for shopping and feasting, there’s something for take the service road before the trees). curves around. Go underneath the large everyone. Why not walk up an At the traffic lights you’ll glimpse the blue DLR bridge, ignoring the first turning appetite for Christmas, or have a yellow, red and blue lights snaking above right, and continue to the Two Men on a healthy start to your New Year? Canary Wharf Idea Store (5). Bench bronze (10) by Giles Penny. We begin this month’s walk at South Cross Montgomery Street to your left, Climb up Cubitt Steps and cross into Quay DLR station in the heart of Docklands. towards Nat West. One (6) . This is especially magical at As you leave the station and face South to wers up ahead. Built in 1991, this iconic this time of year, with its cascading water Quay Plaza, stay on the red brick pavement skyscraper is the centrepiece of the Canary and fairy-lit trees. Walk leftward around and walk towards a set of raised safety bar- Wharf development, visible from far and the gravelly, tree-lined boulevard, past the riers. There’s a fine two-way view of the wide. At the crossroads with Upper Bank plaque to financier , docks here, with South Dock on your left Street you might detour to the opposite until you reach the Couple on Seat bronze and Millwall Dock on your right. corner, for a festively-lit tree grove and ice (11) by Lynn Chadwick. Here you turn left At the end of the railings cross the road, rink (7) – but get your skates on, it only runs and cross the road. head left and nip through a gap to follow until February 21! On the far side, follow the pavement left- the signpost to South Dock, with the water Otherwise, turn left along Upper Bank wards, under the Credit Suisse colonnade on your right-hand side. As you reach the Street. It soon opens out into Montgomery and around into West India Avenue. A dock corner (1), the view broadens – you Square (8), a plaza dotted with twisted tree short distance along on the right you’ll can’t help but marvel at the complex of benches and Centauro, a bronze horse spot ornate metal gates at Willoughby buildings looming up ahead, and the O2 sculpture by Igor Mitoraj. At the second set Passage. Press the button to open the side dome away to your right with its fiery of lights, cross Upper Bank Street towards a gate and walk down the covered service prongs spiking skyward. pillar-box. Then head through Jubilee Park, road to emerge at North Dock (if the gates You’re heading for the opposite corner of a delightfully landscaped green grotto, cur- are locked, then continue to Columbus the dock. To get there, first walk along the rently dotted with ‘red worm’ Christmas Courtyard and down steps to the dock). brick roadway with speed bumps. You’ll lights. Follow the main tarmac path Head on, with the water on your right- soon spot the footbridge (2) spanning the through the gardens, beside a series of five hand side and soon, with large cobbles dock, with its distinctive upright cable sup- stepped waterfalls, to emerge in West Plaza underfoot. port. Cross the bridge, gradually curving – by the main entrance to Canary Wharf You’ll pass through a replica arch (12) upwards and over the water. It’s a popular Tube (9), designed by renowned architect crowned with a model of The Hibbert, a and useful pedestrian link. Sir Norman Foster. 405-ton vessel known as a West Indiaman. At the end of the bridge, turn right. Peek Ahead of you is Middle Dock. Head down In the dock corner take a look at Knocker inside the West Wintergarden (3), a glass the right-hand side, beside the strangely White and The Varlet, two preserved hall at the bridge end with indoor trees and captivating orange ticker tape display as it Thames tugs. The Museum of London jazzy marble flooring. Then walk, with the Docklands (13) is ahead of you, housed in water on your right-hand side, under three To find out an imposing Georgian warehouse that covered sections all the way to the far end. more about echoes back to the days when these docks En route, you might spot a concert or com- buzzed with international trade. edy gig in the glass-arched East joining At the large green Wreck buoy, cross over Wintergarden (4). Healthy North Dock on the yellow ‘moving’ foot- At the corner of South Dock curve left Walks in Tower Hamlets, bridge (14). And on the far bank, follow and slope downwards to join the water’s contact Rachel Maile on Fisherman’s Walk leftwards, under the blue edge, with a row of trees to your left. Just 7364 6940 or email rachel. bridge and around the corner to find steps before you reach the glass footbridge, walk maile@towerhamlets. leading back up to Canary Wharf. up the second set of steps, heading forward Thanks to Rachel Maile for trialling this to Montgomery Street (to avoid the steps, gov.uk walk. Canary Wharf sports an ice rink – but only until February 21 The ‘moving’ bridge over the Museum of

You can’t help but marvel at some Docklands buildings

Christmas is a perfect time of year to explore Docklands

Cabot Square is magical at this time of year The stunning footbridge over South Dock