Can you hear it? The sound of BBQs firing up, glasses of rosé clinking, children digging out last year’s frisbee from the back of the under-stairs cupboard. The great British summer is just around the corner and, with it, long, languid (hopefully) sunny days to fill with al fresco entertainment. And, whether your idea of a good time is wild swimming, live sports, fine dining or a spot of retail therapy, Canary Wharf has plenty of options for the whole family this season.

Immerse yourself in Wharf Wellness

This June, Canary Wharf is hosting Wharf Wellness, a whole month dedicated to wellbeing events, offers and experiences to help you discover new habits and better health. Whether you’re open water swimming in Eden Dock, doing yoga alongside it, listening to Lunchtime Classicals in Jubilee Park, engaging with wellness brands or immersing yourself in Crossrail Place Roof Garden’s Short Story Station, energise, rest and recover through feel-good culture and exercise.

Communal contrast therapy specialist arc community is joining forces with Barry’s for a sustainable peak performance workshop (2 June), followed by sleep optimisation (10 June) and hormonal optimisation workshops (24 June), all in the evenings. Join Third Space for relaxing morning Pilates in Eden Dock (11 and 18 June) or an evening HIIT class over in Union Square (12 June). Click here for the full Wharf Wellness schedule.

Open water swimming in Eden Dock

It’s the perfect time to try padel, with weekly 90-minute taster sessions at Padium; it’s hosting Big Club Socials too (3, 14 and 24 June) which will involve a series of fun, social, 15-minute matches. Afterwards, unwind and connect over pizza in Padium’s mezzanine area. Meet at Eden Dock to join lululemon’s free morning Run Club (5 and 19 June) and, if you’re yet to try reformer Pilates, head to Freedom Clinics; they’re offering seven days of unlimited classes (2-8 June) as a Wharf Wellness Challenge, plus some free Lunchtime Reset classes and evening Pilates sessions.

Padium, Canary Wharf

Lunchtime Classicals, Jubilee Park

Find the freshest fare at Farmer J, Atis, The Salad Kitchen and Urban Greens; at Pure, get 20 per cent off breakfast and lunch mains in June. Enjoy mocktails and alcohol-free drinks on the Feels Like June terrace (2-26 June, 12-9pm, daily) and take time for self-care at Space NK, Blink Brow Bar and Rituals… At Jo Malone London there are free in-store hand and arm massages and Get A Drip will offer 15 per cent off selected services. June concludes with Pride in Wellness, a new LGBTQ+ wellness festival (26-29 June) featuring talks, interactive workshops, Nordic walking, yoga sessions and much more.

Spend time on and by the water

Enjoy the clear waters of Eden Dock during open water swimming sessions from 5 June. Here you can also soak up the melodies of new and emerging artists during Dockside Sounds every Friday, June to August. If you’ve chosen to while away happy hours on the relaxing waterways of Canary Wharf on a GoBoat, you may have visited one of the Wharf ’s many cafés or supermarkets to stock up on provisions for your two or three-hour jaunt; if you prefer to task someone else with the job, Gallio has three picnic box options for GoBoaters, all Mediterranean themed and with a veggie option available. Nearby at London Museum Docklands a fascinating exhibition, Secrets of the Thames, is on until next year.

Admire public art

At almost every turn, you’ll come across another remarkable artwork. Here, uplifting, awe-inspiring, conversation-starting art is for everyone – at more than 100 pieces, the UK’s largest free-to-visit outdoor collection is waiting to be discovered. Canary Wharf is home to works by renowned artists like Henry Moore, Adam Nathaniel Furman and Helaine Blumenfeld; follow the Children’s Art Trail to inspire little minds or visit the ethereal Illusionaries exhibition for a truly mind-bending experience. The newest addition is the unmissable Whale on the Wharf (Skyscraper) by Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang at StudioKCA, found in the dock in Wood Wharf.

It was originally created for the 2018 Bruges Triennial. While researching plastic waste, StudioKCA discovered that scientists estimate there are more than 150 million tonnes of plastic waste in the ocean, with an estimated eight million tonnes added every year. That means, pound for pound, there is more plastic waste from our cities swimming in the ocean than there are whales. To illustrate this, and to show how the waste produced by our cities (specifically plastic) ends up in our oceans and rivers, StudioKCA teamed up with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to pull five tonnes of plastic waste from the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. An 11-metre-tall whale, breaching from the water, felt like the right form, for them, to show the scope and scale of the problem. It has been successful in sparking the conversation about plastic waste and the impact our cities have on our oceans and waterways, winning several awards. Following its reception in Bruges, it was reinstalled in Utrecht and in Singapore, before finding its permanent home in Canary Wharf this year.

Engage with Canary Wharf’s public art collection with a free-to-use digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects App.

Watch sport and more on the Summer Screens

Canada Square Park’s Summer Screens will be showing thrilling sporting action from 29 May to 27 September, including Wimbledon, F1, Ascot, cricket and the Tour de France. As well as sporting events, the Film Club will be back with a stellar line-up of free films, with family favourites on the weekends as well as mid-week evening screenings showing everything from Hollywood hits to musical masterpieces. Gaming fans should keep an eye out for the Mario Kart Championship, giving players the opportunity to compete to win big prizes. The popular Family Gaming sessions are back too, with family-friendly games on the big screen.

All events are free to attend; simply come along with a picnic blanket. Visit Waitrose & Partners and the many cafes in the area for food and drink; the surrounding bars are ideal for refreshing summer beverages. Check back nearer the time for further information on the Film Club programme as well as the schedule of sports which is updated weekly.

Fun and games, for free

East London’s free-to-play minigolf is back until 5 October; the colourful nine-hole course designed by artists Craig & Karl is found in Montgomery Square, and so too are the geometric ping pong tables. Pick up bats and balls from on-site stewards (daily, 12-6pm). Athleisure and wellness brand lululemon, one of this year’s sponsors of Canary Wharf’s Summer Screens, will be hosting fitness classes outdoors in Canada Square Park on Thursdays from 26 June until 17 July.

Enjoy Alfresco Arts and secret gigs

The Alfresco Arts series returns, June to August, bringing together music, theatre and family-friendly events. From a laugh-out-loud twist on Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo & Juliet to a comedy club especially for kids, this year’s line-up promises something for everyone to enjoy. Sofar Sounds is back with a series of live, intimate performances at secret venues, revealed just 36 hours before the event and with acts named on the night. There are sessions on Wednesday 11 June, 16 July, 20 August and 10 September.

Indulge in retail therapy in 8 Harbord Square

At street level in the distinctive, red-bricked 8 Harbord Square building is a hub filling with independent local retailers. Wayne Hairdresser Salon, with contemporary, industrial-style décor that perfectly fits its surroundings, has a team of experienced stylists trained by the best names in the business. Boutique nail bar Awe London already has a salon in Shoreditch; customers in Canary Wharf can expect the same high level of service, whether they opt for a classic manicure or an all-out detailed design.

The Flower Club is the place for handcrafted floral arrangements, with recyclable wrapping and locally sourced flowers; it also hosts community workshops and sells vintage vases and tableware sourced from all around the world. Opening soon are The Island Studio for reformer Pilates (also found in Hackney Wick and Kentish Town), and mouth-wateringly good Malaysian restaurant Ong Lai, brought to Canary Wharf by the team behind popular street food vendor Eat Lah.

Try out these new foodie hotspots

Restaurant, delicatessen and bar Lina Stores opens in Crossrail Place on 9 June; every day of the week, all day, locals can enjoy fresh pasta, antipasti, secondi and dolci. The ground-floor deli is serving salads, sandwiches, cakes and Italian coffee, while Bar Lina will offer creative twists on Italian cocktails for aperitivo hour. Just as appealingly authentic is Brother Marcus, opening its new restaurant in South Colonnade on 4 June; it brings its signature brunch, mezze, cocktails and Eastern Mediterranean wines but also, new for Canary Wharf, ‘souvla and skewers’ cooked over an open- fire grill, which adds a touch of theatre to proceedings. Breakfast is served from 8am until midday on weekdays, before moving on to all-day mezze sharing dishes, coffee, smoothies, cocktails and a Greek-focused wine list. On weekends brunch is served until 4pm. Also opening this summer in South Colonnade is Barbarella, a characterful Italian trattoria from the Big Mamma group complete with waterfront terrace. Saluti!

In Jubilee Place, you’ll find a new favourite spot for fried chicken. Chicken Shop – as they say, born and ‘breaded’ in London – promises to imbue every burger, tender and wing with the unmistakable and unique flavour of London; they believe their years of tasting and testing have created the best fried chicken on the planet. Last but not least, try Greek souvlaki and gyros at Pittagoras in Wharf Kitchen and vegan, gluten-free, keto goodies at Yummzy bakery in Cabot Square.

New openings

This summer, Canary Wharf welcomes to Canada Place footwear specialist OFFICE – so named back in 1981 because, quirkily, products were originally displayed on old office furniture – and Accessorize, the perfect place to pick up jewellery, fashion accessories and gifts. Pop Mart in One Canada Square is an exciting new addition to the Wharf; a global leader in designer collectibles, with 350-plus stores across the world, it stocks beloved characters like Skullpanda. In Jubilee Place, you’ll find Søstrene Grene, a Danish brand founded in the 1970s, and a treasure trove of classic products for the home and creative pursuits.

Stay the night — or longer

Extend your visit here and explore from the cool, contemporary TRIBE Hotel, which is home to the Californian restaurant and bar Feels Like June, or stay for as long as you want at Vertus Edit, an aparthotel with stylish, serviced studios, rooftop terraces, relaxed workspaces and comfy lounges.

For more information visit canarywharf.com