Canary Wharf’s Middle Dock project begins opening to public

Work to create new public spaces around the Middle Dock in Canary Wharf has seen sections begin to open to the public.

In advance of the opening I popped over to take a few pictures in recent days as work looked all but ready.

And then this morning a press release popped up proclaiming a partnership with the Eden Project and the area is to now be called Eden Dock.

It states an art project named Nature Rising has been installed which comprises 20 green figures dotted about. It helpfully includes some images to boot.

A number of events are being held to mark the opening including:

Jubilee Place:

Now until Friday 1 November: 

Wharf Farm, time tbc

10 / 11 / 15-19 / 21 / 22 October: 

Glow in the Dark Flower Shop, 10am-2pm

Eden Dock: 

Wednesday 2 October: 

Dockside Sounds, 12-2pm / 4.30-6.30pm

Thursday 3 October: 

Dockside Sounds, 12-2pm / 4.30-6.30pm

Friday 4 – Monday 7 October: 

Dockside Sounds, times vary

Tuesday 8 October: 

Dockside Sounds, 12-2pm / 3-5pm

Wednesday 9 October: 

Dockside Sounds, 12-2pm / 3-5pm

Thursday 10 October: 

Morning Yoga, 9-10am

Dockside Sounds, 12-2pm / 4.30-6.30pm

Still to come

The project isn’t yet complete given a pedestrian bridge is due to the west of the site past the DLR crossing.

However the terrace and steps to the east in front of the Jubilee line are all but complete as is new decking and a pontoon to the north.

Open-water swimming has been held in recent years but the arrangement looks to be a bit more formalised from 2025.

It all makes for a pretty photogenic area with the DLR heading across the dock alongside greenery.

As well of course for some decent pics from the DLR (as seen above) if you find a carriage with clean windows which isn’t the easiest.

The whole thing is part of an effort by Canary Wharf Group to widen the scope of the estate in terms of offerings. That includes thousands of new homes, a new theatre covered last week as well as hotels.

Public realm changes go along with that as well as improved access via new pedestrian bridges.

I did have a chuckle when the press release stated “73% of office workers prefer to work in a location near water” along with other aqua-based factoids given Canary Wharf Group have been covering up areas of docks for years.

Thus in places it’s a mere narrow passage that’s barely visible.

However the Middle Dock work does look good and where it is covered at least that’s either accessible for pedestrians and/or providing new travel links such as the forthcoming bridge.