London Docklands

Skyscrapers, stores, and secretaries populate the busy Docklands area, distinguishing it from the churches and monuments of the surrounding areas. Until the 1960s, when the shipping industry began its permanent decline, this man-made jumble of floating docks was the commercial heart of the British Empire. The London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC) was founded to revitalize the region in 1981, creating London’s second financial district. Today, the Docklands is one of the largest commercial developments in Europe—a mix of high-tech office buildings covered with scrolling stock prices, countless shops and restaurants, and ultra-modern apartment complexes. Pressed for space, construction companies now set up makeshift offices on Thames barges. Undergoing constant growth, the area proudly broadcasts its status as a temple to consumerism.

Canary Wharf. At 800 ft. high, the glass-paneled, pyramid-topped tower of 1 Canada Sq. is Britain’s tallest building. In the past three years it has been joined by almost equally tall companions—HSBC, Barclays, and Citigroup—whose logos can be seen from miles away. The area surrounding the tower, including parks, malls, and restaurants, is commonly called Canary Wharf. The dockside plaza is lined with upscale corporate restaurants and bars; on a nice day they are a decent place for a drink or a bite to eat. (Canary Wharf, DLR: Canary Wharf or Heron Quays. Wheelchair-accessible.)