January in London in characterised by long, cold nights, and often, flurries of snow too. To make this time of year a little brighter, the Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival illuminates the estate’s commercial towers and surrounding areas in an impressive display of light artwork. This exceptionally popular festival is London’s largest free light show and is a must-see for Canary Wharf locals and visitors to E14 alike.
What to expect at Canary Wharf Winter Lights 2024
The 2024 Canary Wharf Winter Lights festival will feature lights that can be admired from a distance and will include several interactive and engaging exhibits too. If you have attended the event before, expect to see some returning classics among more than 20 striking exhibitions and light displays.
The first installations announced for the 2024 Winter Lights Festival are Sign at Westferry Circus, which will feature brightly lit bamboo poles creating a forest of flickering LED flames, eye-catching geometric light-works at Crossrail Place Roof Garden, a larger-than-life marble run based at Wren Landing, and the iconic Squidsoup’s Submergence at Montgomery Square.
Planning your visit to the Winter Lights Festival
The Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival is scheduled to run from 17 January 2024 to 27 January 2024. No tickets are required, and this event will be completely free for all to attend. This year’s edition offers extended opening hours from 5:00pm – 10:00pm each day.
You can navigate the festival space by downloading the official map in January and locating all the event’s installations from there. Trained stewards will be on hand to assist you upon your arrival. Remember, this event can become very busy on weekends, so try to visit during the week if possible to experience the true magic of Winter Lights. We also recommend dressing warmly to make for a comfortable evening. The Vertus mall pop-up will also be live in January and offers a chance to speak with our dedicated leasing team about your renting plans for 2024.
A closer look at the Canary Wharf Lights
The Winter Lights Festival Canary Wharf brings together whimsical light installation artworks from across the world. The event combines both permanent works, such as Bit.fall by Julius Popp (Germany), Shine your Colours by Tine Bech (Denmark), and Captivated by Colour by Camille Walala (France) with temporary pieces like On the Wave of Light by Those Guys Lighting (Latvia), Marbles by Gertjan Adema (Netherlands), Biophilia by Frankie Boyle (UK), and Kinetic Perspectives by Juan Fuentes (Spain).
Each installation has its own unique story to tell, interweaving unique concepts and sensory experiences with 3D shapes and forms to captivate and inspire. From works symbolising pulsing neurons to physical representations of the connection between inner growth and outer expression, this festival infuses Canary Wharf’s public spaces with significant meaning and invocation.
Navigating Canary Wharf during the festival
Access to the Canary Wharf Winter Lights 2024 festival is made easy with convenient connections from the Canary Wharf (DLR) Docklands Light Rail, Heron Quays(DLR), and West India Quay (DLR). Alternatively, hop on the Jubilee line or Elizabeth line and explore the Canary Wharf event on foot. Parking is also available at Cabot Square Car Park (entrance on Cooks Close), Canada Square Car Park (entrance on Montgomery Street), Westferry Circus Car Park (entrance on West India Avenue), and Jubilee Place Car Park (entrance on Bank Street).
Along with breathtaking installations, the Winter Lights Festival In Canary Wharf will include pop-up food markets serving up delectable street food and hot beverages along the way. Canary Wharf is also home to plenty of world class bars, cafés, and restaurants to choose from. Just remember to book your table to avoid disappointment.
Additionally, you can turn your festival attendance into a full-day event by checking out other nearby attractions, including the ice rink at Canada Square Park or Canary Wharf’s extensive collection of permanent artworks.
Making the most of your festival experience
If you are a first-time visitor to the Winter Lights Festival, seek out a friendly steward upon your arrival for assistance. Families and photography enthusiasts can make the most of their trips by visiting the lights on weekdays. These quieter days will yield great photo opportunities and ensure that people of all ages enjoy excellent views of every attraction on offer.
The Canary Wharf lifestyle: living admist the Winter lights
The Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival is one of the highlights of E14’s events programme. Attending the event has become a beloved local tradition for residents of Canary Wharf.
Choosing to live in an apartment in Canary Wharf gives you access not only to the beauty of the lights, but many other vibrant cultural events, each with something unique and unforgettable to offer. Enquire about our residential apartments today and broaden your horizons with Vertus.
