by I moved here in 2021 because I got a rental deal when we were coming out of the lockout.
I’ll be honest: Canary Wharf wouldn’t be my first choice. It’s like Milton Keynes, but with less personality. (I’m from Milton Keynes). It is completely soulless, unless the soul is money.
But really, I have fallen in love with the place.
I was living in Shoreditch. I think Canary Wharf is more honest and realistic in many ways. Shoreditch pretends to be cool and trendy, but the reality is that you need a lot of money to live there.
What I love about Canary Wharf is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. There is reality about it. It is rich, young Chinese women with small dogs. It is Hawksmoor. It is Dishoom. It is very clean. He has his own private security that only surrounds him. He’s not f***ing about it. And I like it.
I am in a different place in my life now. I knew I would be able to manifest more money in my life by moving here. I don’t want to go to Shoreditch House and see rich kids pretending to be poor and creative. I’d rather look up and leave: how will I get a pension? I’m trying to put myself in that headspace.
Eating and drinking
I don’t drink alcohol, but I love food.
Dishoom on Water Street is less than a five minute walk. It is my favorite place.
There is a great food court in the basement of Canary Wharf shopping centre. There’s a place called Biang where it’s about £12 for a big bowl of noodles. There’s also the Argentinian Grill, where you can spend £12 or £13 and get a chopping board full of rice or fries and steak with a nice Chimichurri sauce.
Paul’s is also there, where they make giant macarons. I like them a lot. For coffee, there’s a new plant-based place called Mala on Park Drive.
Where I work out
It depends on the budget I’m on. If I’m feeling boujie we have Third Space on Canada Square, which is appropriately expensive. Or, there’s a place called In2Sports on Harbord Square, which is like £20 a month and a bit of a charity vibe.
I also registered with my local Better leisure center on Tiller Road. You get access to all their health centers, but you have to time it so you don’t go to the gym when the schools are just out. Students can use the gym from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, which I discovered by mistake once.
I’ve spent 46 years avoiding children — I don’t want to have to work out with them.
To commune with nature
I’m right next to the river. You can walk along it on parts of the Thames Path. I like the river – it feels like I’m not in the city. It’s quiet, and if you walk to the bottom of the Isle of Dogs, it almost feels like you’re by the sea.
Mudchute Park is great. They have animals on the farm there and there is a lot of open space. There’s a hill you can sit on, where you’re green, but you’re looking at the skyline of Canary Wharf. It is lovely.
Grocery shopping
I have to be careful about what I spend in the Amazon Fresh on Water Street. It is convenient but not the best value for money. I used to shop in Waitrose on Canada Square even though I don’t have Waitrose money. Now the big Asda on Harbor Road is my supermarket.
For culture repair
You don’t come to Canary Wharf for the culture.
But I love the Waterstones on Cabot Square and I like going to the Everyman Cinema on Crossrail Place, even though it’s £20 to sit down in a seat. Usually, I jump on the Tube and head into town.
Getting around
The public transport is very good.
We have the Lizzy line, the DLR and the Jubilee line, which is my favorite because you can get a signal. The Overground is also a one-stop shop away at Canada Water.
Dream street
My dream is to have a riverside apartment on Marsh Wall. I have a £2 million flat on my visualization board: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, super high with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking London.
Something you only see in Canary Wharf
Unobstructed views of London. And seagulls too.
What is the catch?
It feels like I’m a little off sometimes. It feels like people don’t visit me as much as when I lived in Shoreditch.
In three words
Futuristic. soulless. Minted.
Conway’s show, Talk Dirty To Me, is on tour until July 18. Join their mailing list at eleanorconway.com for tickets, discount codes and to help her plan her trips.
Schools
There are seven excellent-rated primary schools nearby, as well as eight well-rated primary schools.
Top choices include Woolmore, Mayflower and Bygrove For secondary schools, New City College, Canary Wharf College Crossharbour and Langdon Park Community School are some of the top choices nearby.
What does it cost
Shopping in Canary Wharf
Average property price: £528,840
For rent in Canary Wharf
Average flat price, pcm: £2,560
Average house price, pcm: £3,360
Source: Hamptons & Land Registry
