From skating and ice sculpting to shopping and Santa Claus, Canary Wharf has Christmas wrapped up

The iconic, cosmopolitan Canary Wharf will be buzzing with Christmas cheer over the winter months with a stellar line-up of festive events and an impressive 200 shops, bars and restaurants offering tempting treats and an array of gifts, perfect for under the tree.

Returning for the 7th year, the spectacular Canary Wharf Ice Rink – London’s longest running ice rink - will welcome skaters from Saturday 12 November 2011 to Sunday 19 February 2012. Launched last year by Olympic medallist and Dancing on Ice contestant Sharron Davies MBE and the The Imperial Ice Stars, the rink offers some of the best facilities in London...and with The Park Pavilion home to Canteen, ROKA, the parlour and Wahaca on its doorstep, those who prefer to wrap-up warm and soak up the ambiance are well catered for too.

For little ones brimming with holiday spirit, Canary Wharf offers an array of magical events and performances to enchant even the most lively and excitable of children. Celebrations kick off with Santa’s Arrival Weekend on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December 2011, as Santa’s Grotto - a spectacular sleigh pulled by two giant reindeer – arrives in Jubilee Place. With Santa in residence every weekend throughout December and during the final week before Christmas, there is plenty of time to tell him your Christmas wishes and support the Richard House Children’s Hospice, who receive a donation for every child that visits.

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December 2011, Santa and his friends will also be busy entertaining in Canary Wharf’s East Wintergarden at Santa’s Showtime, a spectacular free festive show for all the family to enjoy.  Elsewhere, those ‘Little Helpers’ looking for a more hands-on activity should visit the shopping malls for free art and craft workshops and face painting, running every weekend throughout December.

With the children busy preparing for the festive season ahead, why not take the opportunity to go Christmas shopping. The annual festive shopping event returns on Thursday 1 December 2011, with fashion shows, on-stage entertainment, demonstrations, tempting in-store discounts and goodie bag giveaways enticing Christmas shoppers to both Cabot Place and Jubilee Place.

With an impressive array of luxury and aspirational brands including Tiffany & Co, Links of London, Jo Malone, Molton Brown, Aquascutum, Hackett, Myla and Jaeger London, Canary Wharf has something for everyone, whether it’s a gift for a loved one or that perfect party dress for the celebrations ahead.

Looking to 2012, Canary Wharf will once again host the world-class London Ice Sculpting Festival from Friday 13 - Sunday 15 January 2012, welcoming international artists back to Canary Wharf for a fantastic three days of fast-paced sculpting, chiselling and carving.

Camille Waxer, Chief Administrative Officer at Canary Wharf Group plc comments: “Canary Wharf really comes alive at Christmas. With so many unique festive events, one of the London’s best ice rinks and a first-class retail and restaurant offering, Canary Wharf buzzes from the moment the Christmas lights turn on to when the last skater leaves the ice in February.”

All Canary Wharf Arts & Events are listed at www.canarywharf.com