Photographing Canary Wharf area; any advice?

scoop · 30 May 2006 at 11:00

Off on a works trip to London in a few weeks and will have some free time before things kick off. Thought I might take a short jaunt up to Canary Wharf and West India Quay. Wondered if anyone had any input into particularly funky vantage points? Also, I don't suppose anyone knows if any of the buildings there have observation decks, do they?

If time allows, I thought a Thames Barrier trip might also be in order; again, any advice on this would be useful! Checked the Thames Clipper boat times up to Woolwich (as I'd hoped to be able to sail past it) but that looks like a no-go as the mo, so I'll be limited to DLR/Underground and foot.......

scoop · 30 May 2006 at 13:01

Super shots: I'll fire up Google Earth tonight and hav a look where these were taken from. Thanks very much.

scoop · 30 May 2006 at 14:16

Matt,

Funily enough, I contacted Canary Wharf via their website and got a very pleasant E-mail back from Julia herself. I will make sure I take a copy of it when I go.........in the words of the lady herself:

"As an amateur photographer you are allowed to take photographs on the estate without a permit."

scoop · 30 May 2006 at 14:29

Just a quick update, in that Julia has also clarified that photography inside buildings is not permitted, but this is the only restriction she mentioned when I asked for clarification on regs. relating to stuff like tripods/flash photography etc.

scoop · 31 May 2006 at 12:58

Righty ho, all, hopefully a last update.... was all set with my E-mail from Julia, when this drops in my inbox from Canary Wharf management:

"Yes you are correct in that Canary Wharf is a private estate. Commercial photography does require a permit however, depending on the type of equipment you use, even if it is for leisure purposes, you may find you are challenged by security. I would suggest you obtain a permit which you may request from [email protected]"

So, bounce the e-mail off to Julia, asking for her thoughts and got a very nice message back from another lady called Phillipa asking for a few more details. 10 mins later, full photo permit faxed to me, all signed off and sorted.

Big brownie points to Canary Wharf management for being helpful, efficient and incredibly accomodating.