Fraser Place Canary Wharf

On an attractive, marina-side street, Fraser Place is housed in a modern 13-story building. The glass doors lead into a lobby that has been designed to feel like a home-away-from-home. It's bright and airy, with a cozy corner arranged as a lounge space. A brown leather sofa with brightly colored pillows sits before a wooden coffee table displaying magazines, a fruit bowl, and vase of flowers. Elsewhere in the lobby, there's a stand of tourist information leaflets, and a smart, wood and glass reception desk. The whole property is stylish, but with a fun, playful edge. There are bright colors throughout, such as the green, blue, and red perspex chairs in the breakfast room, and modern art on the walls. While the apartments are aimed mainly at corporate guests, they attract plenty of tourists, too -- including many people who are attending concerts at the nearby O2 arena. 

The property is situated in a large apartment complex right on Poplar Dock Marina in East London. It’s within the smart Canary Wharf financial district, home to many major banks and media companies, along with many of Europe's tallest buildings. The nearest Docklands Light Railway station is Blackwall, which is a seven-minute walk, while Canary Wharf Underground Station is about the same distance in the other direction -- it's easy to get into central London from there, and takes about 30 minutes total. The world famous, bustling Billingsgate Market is just a five-minute walk, and there are a wide range of shops, bars, and high quality restaurants within a five- to 10-minute walk at the center of Canary Wharf -- including a Waitrose grocery store and large shopping mall. The huge entertainment venue, The O2, is around 15 minutes away by tube, and offers a bowling alley, nightclubs, a cinema, bars, restaurants, and an indoor arena where some of the world's biggest names in music perform. 

The 108 apartments are sleek, contemporary, and stylish. Walls are painted a neutral color, and there is solid wood flooring throughout, but each apartment is livened up with brightly colored cushions, accessories, and modern artwork. The kitchens have trendy, white-gloss units and worktops, and high quality fixtures. Bedrooms have a less bold, and calmer feel than the rest of each apartment, with decor in chic, complementary colors, such as gray and green or yellow and beige. Bathrooms feel luxurious, with contemporary fittings and stylish, white and stone decor; all have L'Occitane toiletries, and high-pressure showers in the shower/tub combos. Each apartment has fast and reliable Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV with DVD player, iPod dock, safe, and phone. Some apartments also have balconies and washer/dryers. They either overlook the marina or the road; those on the road side miss out on the fantastic marina views, and can be noisy. It’s also worth noting that some previous guests have found the rooms to be very warm, and while fans can be provided, there's no air-conditioning.

Fraser Place has free Wi-Fi throughout, and a free fitness center and business lounge for guests to use. The fitness center is small, open 24 hours a day, and equipped with modern machinery. There are also free newspapers and a business lounge, designed to appeal to the corporate clientele. Despite being an apartment block, reception and the concierge service are available 24 hours a day, so guests don't miss out on the hotel-style service. For an additional fee, a continental breakfast is available in the bright breakfast room, although there isn’t a huge variety of food on offer. On-site car parking and airport transfers are also available, with extra charges.