Wrap up well and head out with Graham Barker on his walk this month aroundthe illuminations, architecture and docks of Canary Wharf. Photos by Mike Askew.

Walking in a winterwonderland

eastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlife

eastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlife

eastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlifeeastendlife

THE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR TOWER HAMLETS PRODUCED BY YOUR COUNCIL

WWW.TOWERHAMLETS.GOV.UK4

IT’S a wonderful time of year towalk around Canary Wharf, espe-cially after dusk. With festivelights, an ice skating rink, and plen-tiful opportunities for shoppingand feasting, there’s something foreveryone. Why not walk up anappetite for Christmas, or have ahealthy start to your New Year?

We begin this month’s walk at SouthQuay DLR station in the heart of Docklands.As you leave the station and face SouthQuay Plaza, stay on the red brick pavementand walk towards a set of raised safety bar-riers. There’s a fine two-way view of thedocks here, with South Dock on your leftand Millwall Dock on your right.

At the end of the railings cross the road,head left and nip through a gap to followthe signpost to South Dock, with the wateron your right-hand side. As you reach thedock corner (1), the view broadens – youcan’t help but marvel at the complex ofbuildings looming up ahead, and the O2dome away to your right with its fieryprongs spiking skyward.

You’re heading for the opposite corner ofthe dock. To get there, first walk along thebrick roadway with speed bumps. You’llsoon spot the footbridge (2) spanning thedock, with its distinctive upright cable sup-port. Cross the bridge, gradually curvingupwards and over the water. It’s a popularand useful pedestrian link.

At the end of the bridge, turn right. Peekinside the West Wintergarden (3), a glasshall at the bridge end with indoor trees andjazzy marble flooring. Then walk, with thewater on your right-hand side, under threecovered sections all the way to the far end.En route, you might spot a concert or com-edy gig in the glass-arched EastWintergarden (4).

At the corner of South Dock curve leftand slope downwards to join the water’sedge, with a row of trees to your left. Justbefore you reach the glass footbridge, walkup the second set of steps, heading forwardto Montgomery Street (to avoid the steps,

take the service road before the trees).At the traffic lights you’ll glimpse the

yellow, red and blue lights snaking aboveCanary Wharf Idea Store (5).

Cross Montgomery Street to your left,towards Nat West. One Canada Square (6)towers up ahead. Built in 1991, this iconicskyscraper is the centrepiece of the CanaryWharf development, visible from far andwide. At the crossroads with Upper BankStreet you might detour to the oppositecorner, for a festively-lit tree grove and icerink (7) – but get your skates on, it only runsuntil February 21!

Otherwise, turn left along Upper BankStreet. It soon opens out into MontgomerySquare (8), a plaza dotted with twisted treebenches and Centauro, a bronze horsesculpture by Igor Mitoraj. At the second setof lights, cross Upper Bank Street towards apillar-box. Then head through Jubilee Park,a delightfully landscaped green grotto, cur-rently dotted with ‘red worm’ Christmaslights. Follow the main tarmac paththrough the gardens, beside a series of fivestepped waterfalls, to emerge in West Plaza– by the main entrance to Canary WharfTube (9), designed by renowned architectSir Norman Foster.

Ahead of you is Middle Dock. Head downthe right-hand side, beside the strangelycaptivating orange ticker tape display as it

curves around. Go underneath the largeblue DLR bridge, ignoring the first turningright, and continue to the Two Men on aBench bronze (10) by Giles Penny.

Climb up Cubitt Steps and cross intoCabot Square. This is especially magical atthis time of year, with its cascading waterand fairy-lit trees. Walk leftward aroundthe gravelly, tree-lined boulevard, past theplaque to financier Michael von Clemm,until you reach the Couple on Seat bronze(11) by Lynn Chadwick. Here you turn leftand cross the road.

On the far side, follow the pavement left-wards, under the Credit Suisse colonnadeand around into West India Avenue. Ashort distance along on the right you’llspot ornate metal gates at WilloughbyPassage. Press the button to open the sidegate and walk down the covered serviceroad to emerge at North Dock (if the gatesare locked, then continue to ColumbusCourtyard and down steps to the dock).Head on, with the water on your right-hand side and soon, with large cobblesunderfoot.

You’ll pass through a replica arch (12)crowned with a model of The Hibbert, a405-ton vessel known as a West Indiaman.In the dock corner take a look at KnockerWhite and The Varlet, two preservedThames tugs. The Museum of LondonDocklands (13) is ahead of you, housed inan imposing Georgian warehouse thatechoes back to the days when these docksbuzzed with international trade.

At the large green Wreck buoy, cross overNorth Dock on the yellow ‘moving’ foot-bridge (14). And on the far bank, followFisherman’s Walk leftwards, under the bluebridge and around the corner to find stepsleading back up to Canary Wharf.Thanks to Rachel Maile for trialling thiswalk.

To find outmore aboutjoiningHealthyWalks in Tower Hamlets,contact Rachel Maile on 7364 6940 or email rachel.maile@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Canary Wharf sports an ice rink – but only until February 21 The ‘moving’ bridge over the Museum of London Docklands

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

You can’t help but marvel atsome Docklands buildings

Christmas is a perfect time ofyear to explore Docklands