Canary Wharf is a large commercial and retail centre in East London. One Canada Square, also known as the Canary Wharf Tower, is the tallest building in the UK at 235 metres tall with 50 stories. It is a London landmark with a distinctive pyramid pinnacle.

There are four skyscrapers under construction in London that will overtake it as London's tallest building. The Shard, the UK's first supertall building, will be the tallest of them at 310m.

The Canary Wharf area began as the West India Docks. These were named by Fruit Lines Ltd who traded in fruit from the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands. They occupied berth number 32 and the large warehouse situated beside it. For almost a century the West India Docks were the busiest trading ports in the world, with space for up to 600 large vessels.

Many of the original warehouses were destroyed during heavy bombing in World War II, and although the docks enjoyed a brief few years of improved trade in the 1950s the subsequent decades saw a steady decline. Much of the area lay empty and derelict for years. The Canary Wharf docks closed in 1980.

The area was heavily redeveloped in the 80's and 90's when the Conservative government of the time instituted a liberal program of low rents, rates remissions and relaxed planning permissions. Although plans initially focused on housing, small business premises and industrial locations, the area actually turned into a financial services centre. It is now the home to the headquarters of corporations such as CitiGroup, HSBC and the Financial Services Authority. Large media organizations including Reuters, and the tabloid newspaper the Daily Mirror also have a strong presence.

In 1996, the IRA ended a 17 month long ceasefire by detonating a bomb near the South Quay Plaza at the wharf. The bomb seriously damaged several buildings, and killed two people.

There are many architectural and artistic design details in the Wharf. It's strong contemporary visual appeal is one of it's defining characteristics. Highlights include:

One Canada Square - the stained glass and circular motif in the foyer were an original design by Charles Rennie. They represent Canary Wharf, water and boats. The slate used is made from the Welsh slate shelving found in the original Banana Warehouse at Canary Wharf.

The Columbus Screen - a specially designed fence at Columbus Courtyard made of decorative glass and other materials. The artist was inspired by an ancient map that showed navigational routes not long after the time of Christopher Columbus. The courtyard also includes an impressive fountain.

Two Men on a Bench - at the bottom of Cubitt Steps by the side of Mackenzie Walk is a sculpture by Giles Penny which is a large bronze work with a contemplative air.