Cabot Square

Cabot Square sits at the heart of Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs, a modern business district built on former docklands. The square is framed by towering glass offices and punctuated by a central fountain. Among its artworks stands Henry Moore’s bronze Draped Seated Woman, cast in 1957–58. Major banks like Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley occupy the surrounding buildings. A small stone in the north-west corner honours Michael von Clemm, a banker who helped shape the area’s transformation. The square’s east side links to Cabot Place, a shopping centre designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli and Adamson Associates. Several restaurants line the square, including First Edition, Sri Nam, and Corney and Barrow. Cabot Hall once hosted concerts and events until it closed in 2006 and reopened in 2011 as Boisdale restaurant. The square and hall take their name from 15th-century explorer John Cabot. Visitors find wide paved paths around the fountain and benches for resting. The Moore sculpture commands attention near the water feature. Office workers fill the square at lunchtime while diners spill out from nearby restaurants. The architecture of Cabot Place frames views of Canary Wharf’s skyline. The area feels calm compared with the bustle of the financial district.