Crossrail Place at Canary Wharf - and its roof garden

London’s new Crossrail railway line won’t be up and running until at least 2020, but the first stage of the Canary Wharf station – Crossrail Place (above), designed by Foster and Partners  – has already opened to the public.

One of its key features of this stunning structure is an extensive roof garden that draws on the area’s heritage as a nineteenth-century trading hub. Many of the plants are native to countries visited by ships of the West India Dock Company, which unloaded their wares where the station now sits.

The development sits almost exactly on the Meridian line and the garden designers Gillespies (who also landscaped the Skygarden on top of the Walkie Talkie, 20 Fenchurch St) took this as their inspiration, dividing the area into two geographic zones. Plants from the Western hemisphere such as ferns and Sweet Gum are on that side of the Meridian line, with Asian plants such as bamboos, magnolias and maples on the other. While the garden is mostly covered with a transparent roof, the central area is open to the sky, allowing in fresh air and pollinating insects. Paths wind through the planting with benches where you can relax and enjoy the surroundings. For the curious, descriptive plaques give details about the history of the area and the planting. Admission is free, and unlike the Skygarden, you can go there without booking in advance.

While work continues on the station in the basement, in other parts of the development shops, restaurants and a cinema have begun welcoming customers. The roof garden will also be playing host to theatre performances and family entertainment. See http://www.wharf.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/events-coming-up-roof-garden-9234815  

Once complete the 85-mile Crossrail line will stretch from Shenfield in Essex to Heathrow and Reading. Until then an easy way to reach Crossrail Place is the short walk north from the Jubilee line's Canary Wharf station.