Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Canary Wharf

"Hyde Park is central London's largest green space, expropriated from the church in 1536 by Henry VIII and turned into a hunting ground and later a venue for duels, executions and horse racing. The 1851 Great Exhibition was held here, and during WWII the park became an enormous potato field. These days, it's a place to stroll and picnic, boat on the Serpentine lake, or to catch a summer concert or outdoor film during the warmer months."

"When a park is home to a few Princes and a Duchess or two, you know it’s going to be good. As well as green spaces abundant enough to dodge the crowds, you’ll find historic monuments to explore, fountains to both splash about in and admire, myriad art installations, and free exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery a short walk away from its namesake lake. Now that’s a walk in the park."

"Hyde Park lies between Mayfair, Knightsbridge, and Kensington and is contiguous with Kensington Park and Gardens, but is considered a separate park. Park Lane runs along its eastern side and Marble Arch is at its northeast corner. Hyde Park is home to Speaker’s Corner and The Serpentine."

"Westminster Abbey – This large, mostly Gothic, church is one of the most notable religious buildings in the UK and is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for British monarchs. It is simply breathtaking both inside and out but it is inside that you will find so much to explore. Make sure you allow a good few hours to visit properly."

"At number ten on our list of the best buildings and architecture in London is the historic Westminster Abbey. It’s one of the Uk’s most notable religious buildings. It’s also the traditional place of coronation and burial site for British Monarchs."

"Steeped in millennia of rich and often bloody history, Westminster Abbey is one of England's most iconic buildings. An abbey has stood…"

"It’s definitely a unique-looking structure, and you can see it from all over London; that’s because The Shard is a 95-story skyscraper, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, in Southwark, London, and the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The Shard was built with the idea of it being an architecturally stunning vertical city, and it more than lives up to that. It houses restaurants, hotels, offices, residences and more."

"A list of famous London buildings wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Britain’s tallest building. The Shard is one of the newest additions to the city’s skyline and one of the most astonishing architectural designs in the world. Take a stroll across the famous London Bridge and snap a photo as you stand at the foot of the incredible glass tower."

"Alternatives (or additional spots) in the area to the above attractions: Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market (one of London’s most famous food markets), The Old Operating Theatre Museum (fee*), The Monument (fee*), and The View from the Shard (fee*)."

"The Tower of London, which is officially known as Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle in London that sits on the River Thames. The Tower of London has stood since 1066. Beginning in 1100 and lasting through 1952, the Tower of London was used as a prison, though it was intended to be a royal home."

"This well-preserved medieval castle is one of London’s premier attractions for families – adults and children love it. Interior exhibits are interactive and informative. The castle was eventually converted to a prison and the site of many executions."

"Now home to the British Crown Jewels, the Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078. It served as a prison from 1100 to the mid twentieth century. This has led to the phrase “sent to the Tower”, meaning imprisoned."

"Definitely up there as one of my favourite bridges in the world, Tower Bridge is marvellous to photograph both during the day…. … and at night, as a long exposure. It’s also good from both sides of the river, although if you go to the south bank then you can frame it with the Tower of London as well, which is nice."

"After the houses of Parliament, this bridge is London’s most well known site. There are several excellent angles to photograph this bridge from. – A very popular photo to take is traffic light trails going through the archways of the bridge."

"Next suggested stop is HMS Belfast(fee*), which is permanently moored on the Thames a short walk from Tower Bridge on the south bank. This historic warship, operated today by Imperial War Museums, will definitely be of interest to military buffs, or anyone with an interest in boats. Launched just before the outbreak of World War 2, this Royal Navy Light Cruiser saw action in both World War 2 and the Korean War, before being decommissioned in 1963."

"After you’ve crossed tower bridge, you might consider visiting HMS Belfast, which is permanently moored on the Thames a short walk from Tower Bridge on the south bank. This historic warship, operated today by Imperial War Museums, will definitely be of interest to military buffs, or anyone with even a slight interest in boats."

"Queen’s Wood is one of the four ancient woods in the London Borough of Haringey. Today it is situated very close to Highgate tube station, but Queen’s wood was originally part of the Forest of Middlesex that spread over the largest part of London. Despite its closeness to the crowded city, the wood succeeded to preserve the largest part of its natural habitat, with a rich flora and fauna: different species of grasses, trees, shrubs, birds (three species of woodpecker), and insects."

"The Harry Potter fans reading this will recognise Millennium Bridge as a key Harry Potter London spot; it’s the bridge that the Death Eaters knock down at the start of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. For everybody else, it’s just a cool metal structure that connects the north and south banks of the river. The view of the metallic architecture of the bridge, combined to the rooftops of London and the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in the distance make for the perfect Instagram shot."

"Built in 2000, Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Thames River. It has been featured in several movies, including Harry Potter and Guardians of the Galaxy. Walk across Millennium Bridge and continue on to St. Paul’s Cathedral."

"May sunrise in Bushy Park #bushypark #royalpark #theroyalparks #londonparks #nationalparkcity #teddington #kingstonuponthames #richmonduponthames #hampton #hamptoncourt #visitsurrey #surrey #jessopsmoment #genuinebritain #visitlondon #ukparks #sunrise #ukscenery #ukbestshots #seisbest #igerssurrey #surreyshooters #nikonphotography #nikon #nikonowners #metroLDN. A post shared by Astrid Tontson (@12mm_view) on May 8, 2020 at 11:51pm PDT. Stroll down Chestnut Avenue to Hampton Court Palace or see trees full of mistletoe in Bushy Park, the second largest of London's Royal Parks."

"Designated in September 2014 a Site of Special Scientific Interest, Bushy Park represents an enormous open natural space. The second largest of London’s Royal Parks, Bushy Park is unique through its historical heritage and the large number of outdoor activities that it grants. When visiting Bushy Park, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy activities such as fishing, horse riding, hockey, rugby, cricket or simply relaxing in a comfortable café."

"Lying to the north of Hampton Court Palace, the park, has a distinctly rural character and is home to around 320 free-roaming deer. The famous Arethusa 'Diana' Fountain forms the centerpiece to the famous Chestnut Avenue."

"Located in the Temple area of Central London lie the peaceful Inner Temple Gardens, within the precincts of Inner Temple, one of the four Inns of the Court in London. A place of tranquillity in the hustle and bustle, you will find a 3-acre garden with wide lawns, rare trees and herbaceous borders."

"Once the home of Princess Diana (and before that, a young Queen Victoria), Kensington Palace is currently one of the residences of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge—that’s William and Kate. The lush gardens and the King’s and Queen’s state apartments are open to visitors year round. Here’s what Kensington Palace looked like right after Princess Diana’s death."

"One of the undisputed leaders of the craft beer movement, Camden beer is becoming increasingly easy to find away from the capital (great for us country folk), but it’s best enjoyed in Camden itself. Completely unpretentious and genuine about their passion for brewing and quest for the perfect pint, if you want to experience them at their best head to their Brewery Bar (home of the original Hells lager). Best Brew– Hells, 4.6% – The original and still their best work."

"No prizes for guessing where Camden Town Brewery makes its beer. Well, actually, if you want to get technical, it has a larger brewery in Enfield these days… But we digress. The Camden town site offers brewery tours, and it also hosts food pop-ups, complete with a sun-drenched terrace just designed for day drinking all the Camden classics: Helles, Pale, Off-Menu, Week Nite and the juicy Show Off lager."

"The founder of Camden Town Brewery, Jasper Cuppaidge, started making beer for fun in the basement of his pub. As a pub owner, he decided to enter into the beer market producing a great and recognisable lager. Beers at Camden Town are made all year long, and sometimes you can find some limited editions."

"Born from the shared dreams of two like-minded beer lovers, what started out as half batch brewing has grown into a great community business that really does have the community at its core. They’ve created a great following, opened a taproom and run a variety of local events. Passionate and inventive there’s always another beer coming along to be sampled which makes them so exciting."

"Long Arm Pub and Brewery are changing the game when it comes to pubs in East London. Brewing all their beer on-site, the pub changes their choices daily, rotating between six freshly brewed pints."

"Bringing a taste of provincial France to Clerkenwell, La Petite Ferme is a restaurant that takes a rustic approach to French cuisine. This eatery sources artisanal produce and sticks to traditional Gallic recipes, meaning rich flavours are guaranteed. There’s garlic butter Burgundy snails, foie gras with brioche, top-quality French cheese platters and truffle mash potatoes."

"This newly opened French bistrot – located just next door to Galvin La Chapelle in the heart of Spitalfields – features the type of big French dishes that you're unlikely to have cooked in lockdown. Think cassoulet and slow-cooked beer braised pork cheeks; the kind of food that gives you a hug from the inside. Their outdoor seating benefits from having ample cover to keep you sheltered if any weather crops up as you tuck into classic French dishes and delicious wines."

"Head over to this pretty Spitalfields restaurant where they'll be serving up a phenomenal brunch spread every Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy free-flowing prosecco or Champagne alongside three courses of delicious food including eggs benedict, miso-glazed aubergine and french toast."

"Head to Galvin Bistrot & Bar, where Michelin-starred chefs Chris and Jeff Galvin will take you across the Channel to French bistrots of Paris and Lyon with their menu of elegant eats, handpicked wines and stylish decor."

"Whatever the time of day, we have a dish to suit your mood; from steak frites and boeuf bourguignon to a selection of croques, baguettes and vegan options too – all on our menu of classic French food with a contemporary twist.” They offer breakfast and brunch dishes such as the Grande Breakfast (two free-range eggs, two Cumberland sausages, sweet cure bacon, beans, mushroom, tomato, black pudding, sautéed potatoes and sourdough toast), Pancakes (three warm pancakes topped with your choice of sweet cure bacon, banana and maple syrup, or fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and pineapple with fruit compot, and French Toast (two slices of sweet brioche bread topped with your choice of sweet cure bacon, banana and maple syrup, chocolate sauce, banana and hazelnuts or fresh seasonal fruit, honey and vanilla crème fraîche)."

"You’ll find something for everyone at Café Rouge, with all-day bistro dining perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in more than 70 locations across the UK. There are plenty of delicious gluten-free dishes on every menu, plus, with vegan, vegetarian and dairy-free options also available, you’ll always be able to find something to suit you!. Many Café Rouge recipes are naturally gluten-free, or can be made gluten-free on request; plus don’t forget to ask for the gluten-free menu upon arrival to make choosing your perfect meal even easier."

"Café Rouge's offers a menu of tasty choices for flexitarians, those on a part-time plant-based diet, or full-time vegan, with friendly restaurant staff on-hand to make recommendations of something to suit you. Try the vegan burger or the wild mushroom risotto. Visit Café Rouge's website and tick the vegan dietary filter to see what's suitable."