Flex in the city

I want our motoring evening to continue, and head the Agila off to Canary Wharf – all-but deserted at night, offering an intriguing mix of space and space-age scenery. Here, London seems like another planet, all silvery skyscrapers and shimmering glass, with the dark Thames twinkling through the background. One Canada Square, the UK’s tallest building, is a cloud-tickling needle of newspaper and bank offices, flanked by almost-as-tall buildings either side. Nearby, though, there’s evocative evidence of London’s past: the old docks, once teeming with ships, their warehouses transformed now into cool, contemporary living spaces. The Agila loves these empty roads, red instruments glowing like its surroundings, purring quietly through this fascinating night-time cityscape.

Leaving the Isle of Dogs via the mercifully uncongested Blackwall Tunnel, we zoom into North Greenwich – until recently, like Hoxton and Canary Wharf before it, an urban wasteland. But now, the O2 Arena (formerly the Millennium Dome) has created another must-visit location. Its crown of supports sparkles with bright lights, the surrounding roads enlivened now by piazzas and walkways. Hardly an area to visit on foot, it is wonderful to drive around, to zoom amongst the dazzling architecture, marvelling at its almost futuristic design.

Driving by night, feeling snug and secure in the ideal car for the job, makes London a different place: full of life, both modern and oozing history, with cool spaces and views around every corner. Our night out felt both up-to-date and familiar, with a sense of freedom that can be hard to find in contemporary life: and the Agila fitted the picture perfectly.