Heron Quays DLR station opened in 1987, which was also the year the DLR commenced in London, it is…read morein the Canary Wharf area at the other side of Jubilee Place mall, so they are surely within walking distance, perhaps two minutes or so away via a DLR service. As with any DLR station, it is step-free and the station seemed quite clean as well. The station appeared to be unstaffed but that didn't seem to be a problem as the station was easy to follow. It is in Fare Zone 2, which is common for East London based on trips to Canary Wharf, West Ham and Stratford on either the DLR or Underground on a recent trip to the capital. 12 trains per hour in both directions run from the station, around every 5 minutes to either Bank or Lewisham so it is pretty frequent, but for me, this station mainly serves as somewhere to get into Canary Wharf if you're feeling a little lazy, with a large number of services running through there which you can't get from here, odds are if you're travelling from Heron Quays here, you would have to go to Canary Wharf anyway, or another station along the route, for example, I had to change at Westferry to get onto Tower Gateway. Serving the southern part of Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, this station is clean and easy to follow so that deserves three-stars, it is let down by being unstaffed, having fewer routes than nearby stations, and the touching in and out pads being less obvious again compared to other stations on the DLR, as unlike the tube you don't need to pass through a gate, it's just something you tap on the side. There wasn't any at all on the platform! 3*

Amazingly modern with step-free access (lift and escalator) from street level and onto the trains,…read morethere's no minding the gap here. Heron Quays is part of the Docklands Light Rail system and is a very short walk from the Canary Wharf station on the Jubilee Line. Easy access to the ticket barricades and Oyster readers, Heron Quays is in Zone Two. I wish the rest of the Underground could be this nice, but this is new and Baker Street was opened 150 years ago.

Docklands Light Railway (DLR) is a metro system in London, perhaps it doesn't get the same…read morepublicity as the London buses as well as Underground and Overground, but it still is an important service, serving multiple locations including Canary Wharf. It is owned 70% by Keolis. Trains run between 7.5 and 15 miles per hour, so it perhaps isn't the speed you'd be used to on the tube, but it does vary with some stations Underground, and the rest (majority) overground including the likes of Tower Gateway. A large amount of the stations on the DLR are in the East London area including Tower Gateway, Stratford (and International) etc, but it does expand further to the likes of Bank and Lewisham. The trains themselves don't tend to be too comfortable, I personally found them far too bumpy to the point I was literally shaking and highly uncomfortable. The prices tend to be the same as any transport in London, and as the tube and buses, you can use them for the Daily cap with Oyster, as you can on the buses, trams and tube etc. All stations are step-free which is handy if you're planning a route and you need extra assistance. The one staff member I saw on a DLR service seemed really rude and unhelpful, he seemed disinterested in my feedback or even questions regarding the service. Trains were frequent but really uncomfortable, of course, it isn't as fast or broad (the network) as the tube, but sometimes certain routes can be better, quicker or easier so it isn't terrible, but it needs to do a lot to make the journeys on the network pleasurable. 2*

The DLR is efficient, clean and smooth. So many things that the regular Underground can't be thanks…read moreto it's 150 year old tunnels and rather ancient trains. The only bummer is that it doesn't go nearly far enough to the West side of London. You East-enders don't know how good you have it! Parts of it are almost like riding the monorail at Disney World. Clear views of the city when you're above ground through big glass windows. The trains don't have onboard drivers, which can be a little weird and takes getting used to.

So, the DLR was originally built as a sort of compromise - namely they agreed to have a rail…read moreservice coming out here, but they didn't want to spend all this money on it (there wasn't much in the way of a tube service back them). Anyway, then Canary Wharf happened, and it exploded into a massive financial centre, which meant that a tube line eventually materialised. As for this station, well, I have to say that there isn't all that much that thrills me with it.

South Quay DLR opened in 1987 and has been rebuilt twice since then: in 1996 after the Docklands…read morebombing and then in 2009. It serves close to 6 million people a year and is in far zone two, it is in "Milwall" but it's only a couple of minutes on the DLR away, or you can even walk into Canary Wharf where there are more services on the Jubilee Line of the Underground as well as many shops and restaurants. Closer to home, there is a Tesco Express and Subway opposite the station and it's also really close to the Hilton London Canary Wharf, and a short walk away from the Lincoln Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton which are two of my favourite hotels in the entire city of London, especially the former. As with all DLR stations, it is step-free, and you can touch in from the entrance and then rush to your train - I would advise waiting however to check the lifts are in order as on my visit BOTH lifts were out of order, which meant I couldn't travel and as I had already paid it was difficult to get my money back. This is an unstaffed station meaning it is hard to get help if you need it, and I also couldn't understand why there was no notices around the station, on the DLR network or even signs on the lift to say it was out of order. I ended up giving up as well as other customers waiting as both lifts didn't appear to work. If it's maintenance, why do they do it on both lifts at once? Surely allowing one lift to work to allow the passenger to get the next train in the opposite direction and then change would make more sense (Not an ideal situation but still better than having to walk into Canary Wharf) The station does have nice views of the dock, and it is open meaning it's great on a sunny day - on a miserable day (trust me, we get them a lot here) not so good. Still, the station planning and lift issue is ridiculous, especially how there was nothing to inform passengers regarding the issue both before or after paying. 2*

Well, this is another one of those DLR stations, which basically means that it really isn't all…read morethat fancy, having pretty much been built on the cheap. At this point the line ends up at the Isle of Dogs, which I have been told has been around for much longer than the Canary Wharf area of the city. As such, I suspect that part of it was built to link what was in effect a public transport black hole to the rest of the city. So, sure, the station isn't fancy, but at least it is here.

Not a particularly useful station except for local residents, the Crossharbour station is situated…read moreaway from the commercial hub that is Canary Wharf just three stops to the north. Asda is within 3 minutes' walk downhill to the south.

So, this is another one of those modern stations, but this one is like connected to a major…read moreshopping centre, if you basically consider Canary Wharf a shopping centre in its own right. Well, that was certainly the case with this station. It is pretty fancy, and pretty new as well, but I can't really claim that it is a favourite.

It's confusing to write about Canary Wharf Station now as it's really three stations serving three…read moreseperate lines - the Jubilee and Elizabeth lines, and the DLR (there is a distinction between all three of these some Londoners will insist on making that is technically correct but really just serves to confuse the hell out of non locals) - but all together it's a sprawling set of linked transportation and shopping options unrivaled in London. What Canary Wharf lacks in soul it makes up for in convenience and choice. The whole design is focused around servicing the clinetel of the region, namely white collar business folks who live and work in the area. History was bombed and made obsolete around here so you're not going to find any remenants of the past save the reappropriated docks. But it is quite modern, clean, and bold in its design and feels quite different than anywhere else you'll visit in London. The older Jubille and DLR areas are by far the most useful as they are situated in the middle of a sprawling mall with a variety of good options; you'll find everything from standard convienience like Boots and M&S to more novel offers like the wonderful Tian Tian Market (dedicated to everything East and Southeast Asian cusine) and a local branch of Malin & Goetz. A smaller selection of mostly food options are available at the Elizabeth Line area. Nothing is necessarily architectuarally interesting at any of the areas of the stations per say although they're big, clean, modern and safe. I suppose the Elizabeth Line has a really sort of futuristic strange spaceshiip look to the exterior but you have to pan your eyes away from the fact that one of London's crudiest attempts at Western regional food (Big Easy) is perched up there. There's a least a five minute brisk walk between each of the stations so keep that in mind if you need to switch between them.

Many of the Docklands Light Railway stations are elevated and West India Quay (pronounced "key") is…read moreno exception. There is step-free access from street level to the platforms with a lift ("elevator"). This is the best station to use if you're looking to reach the Museum of the Docklands and the Marriott hotel. The station is quote close to the Canary Wharf and Poplar DLR stations. The station is in Travelcard Zone 2. There are no ticket barricades, but there are automated ticket vending machines and Oyster readers. The DLR is often patrolled by ticket collectors, so I'd really not recommend taking the chance of not having a ticket.

You know, I have real love for the DLR network but I never actually got the point of this station…read morein relation to its proximity to Canary Wharf DLR station -- for that matter, Heron Quays gets thrown into this as well. West India Quay & Heron Quays are so close to Canary Wharf station that if you put a ladder, long plank of wood or rope between them you could easily walk, run or climb to Canary Wharf. West India Quay is ideal for the shops, cinema, bars and hotel at Hertsmere Road and of course people who are heading further into Tower Hamlets. Other than that, it is a quiet station with nothing going on there except waiting for the frequently running trains. DLR should have just elongated Canary Wharf station to encompass both these bookend stations.

We needed a taxi service to move to our hotel. I always hesitate to use taxis when traveling but my…read morenephew recommended Carrot Cars, which he uses quite a lot himself, to get us from the Greenwich area to Bloomsbury. The lady taking our order was polite, precise and up-front about time and price. The cab came on time and texted me that they were outside. Car was clean and comfortable. The driver was safe, polite and friendly. At the destination, because a road crew had dug up the road, he even offered to help us with our suitcases half a block to the hotel (we declined.)

If you enjoy being price-gouged while traveling with an infant, Carrot Cars is the service for you…read more For everyone else: stay far away. We used this company for our trip to the airport, and the initial journey was seamless. Naively, we expected the same level of service for the return leg. Instead, we were met with a predatory "policy" change designed to squeeze extra money out of us while we were mid-air. The "Hidden Luggage" Scam While we were on our return flight--completely unable to check emails or take calls--Carrot Cars unilaterally decided to upgrade our booking to a larger, much more expensive vehicle. Their excuse? Our luggage allegedly didn't fit their "policy," despite it being the exact same luggage that fit perfectly fine in their standard car on the way out. Zero Accountability This wasn't an upgrade; it was a £30 shakedown without our consent. When we reached out to resolve this, we dealt with "Jess" in customer service. To say she was unhelpful would be an understatement. She flatly refused a refund and offered zero resolution, hiding behind rigid scripts while ignoring the blatant inconsistency of their own service. The Bottom Line Taking advantage of a family of three with a 4-month-old baby is a new low, even for a taxi firm. It is clear they wait until you are stranded at the airport or stuck in the air to hike the price, knowing you have little choice but to pay. Do yourself a favor: Book an Uber or a standard London Black Cab. You'll save money, avoid the stress, and won't be supporting a group of con artists who prioritize a quick £30 over basic integrity.

You know what I love learning as a tourist about this particular line? You can sit all the way in…read morethe front seats as this line is driverless. It's interesting to see the train traverse the rail lines and pass through cool buildings (depending on which way you're going).

If you want to see the East End of London and/or Canary Wharf and Docklands then hop on the…read moreDockland Light Railway, DLR. Regular, driverless, trains on the circuitous routes around the area. Mainly on elevated tracks so nothing is missed. Contactless debit/credit card payments make things easy. Touch the sensor as you go to the platform and, remember, touch it as you leave the station. Staff are extremely helpful, smiley and friendly. Great for our tourist trade.

DO NOT USE. Complete unmitigated disaster. Booked a cab for 22:30; called at 22:15 to double-check…read moreit was on it's way. Operated lied and said it was fine, I later got the confirmation that the taxi had only then been booked, and would take at least an hour to arrive. Save yourself the trouble and go with someone honest and/or comptent. What a shambles

Great airport transferread more