Paddington Basin & Little Venice

If you’re wishing to make the most of your social time here, then there are a host of restaurants, pubs and bars within walking distance to Paddington Citi View.

Paddington Basin is a 10-minute walk and showcases al fresco dining spots, barge restaurants and canalside cosy pubs as well as outdoor grassy areas for lounging or studying with friends and watching the world go by.

Sheldon Square meeting place at Paddington Basin in London

Stop off for breakfast at Bondi Green, an Australian themed brunch spot, or embrace your love of cheese at the cheese barge, famous for it’s cheese themed menu and matching wines.

As you walk further along the water, you will find the ever quaint, Little Venice; an absolute haven which looks like it’s been taken from a story book sat amongst one of the busiest cities in the world.

Little Venice basin near the Paddington Basin

Take in the sights of the beautiful buildings and pretty barges or visit one of the independent theatre venues to catch a show, whatever you’re into you’ll be sure to be blown away.

Kyoto Gardens

One of the most beautiful gardens in London, open to the public and boasting stunning surroundings and landscapes; perfect for some relaxation and tranquillity. Kyoto Garden was opened in 1991 and was gifted by the city of Kyoto to commemorate the relationship between great Britain & Japan.

Kyoto garden in Holland Park in London

Kyoto Garden is a complete Oasis which is situated right in the heart of the prestigious Holland Park. If you visit, you’ll be sure to see it’s beautiful waterfall which flows into a pond full of koi carp as well as some very interesting trees, plants and stone lanterns. If you’re lucky you may even sight one of the majestic peacocks who have made Kyoto garden their home.

This park truly is a piece of Japan right in the centre of London. It’s open to anyone and free to enter from 7:30am every morning until 30-minutes before dusk.

Hyde Park

If you’re staying in Paddington Citi View, consider Hyde Park as your front garden. It’s a slice of heaven right in the centre of London, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the streets and take some time out to connect with nature.

If you’re a sports fan you can take advantage of the outdoor Lido, which hosts the oldest swimming club in Britain; you can also join running clubs or enjoy a leisurely cycle around the grounds. It’s home to many events every year such as Winter wonderland, Concerts, Festivals, Sporting events and many more.

Hyde Park has a huge affiliation with the Royal Family, it is owned by the crown estate and was opened by King Charles in 1637. Not only this, but it is also home to Kensington Palace and Buckingham palace is only a 12-minute walk from Hyde Park Corner, meaning you can visit two of the main tourist attractions with ease, a short distance from your doorstep.

If neither of the above interest you, and you’re a fan of current affairs or getting your voice heard, the famous Speakers Corner is bound to be your go-to place. Think of it as a public soapbox, dating all the way back to the mid 1800’s when free speech was granted – many an icon such as George Orwell and William Morris have led demonstrations and debates on this very spot to a crowd of onlookers.

Every Sunday, people from all walks of life come along to address the gathering on recent issues, struggles or events.

London Zoo

Take the Bakerloo line from Paddington to Baker Street and arrive right outside Regents Park approx. 17-minutes later. Nestled within the grounds is London Zoo, a huge attraction for the city and one of the oldest in the world open since 1828.

Feel closer to nature by visiting the hundreds of different species from Reptiles to Red Monkeys and learn about the zoos efforts towards the conservation of these fascinating creatures and their different habitats.

Paddington Statue

The Paddington Bear statue which was created by Marcus Cornish is an iconic symbol of the area of Paddington. The beautiful bronze figure was originally erected in 2000 and situated in Paddington station, the place he was named after.

Until more recently when the Elizabeth line was created and he was moved. Initially Paddington was relocated to another part of the station but later then moved again to a better spot after residents and visitors complained that he had been shoved into a dark corner of the station and out of view! He now resides right in the middle of the station once again – where he belongs!

Paddington Bear

The second Paddington statue is found in Leicester Square, sat on a bench eating a marmalade sandwich.
Not only is Paddington famed for his association with children’s books and stories, but he now has a place in our hearts from his recent rise to fame via the Queen.

During the jubilee he became a royal mascot and once again won over the hearts of the public and fans of the royals from around the world. During the Jubilee a touching CGI animation was created of Queen Elizabeth and the bear sharing a pot of tea and marmalade sandwich was broadcasted and brought the character to life, making us fall in love with him even more!

It was after this that the public began associating Paddington more heavily with his marmalade sandwiches, so much so that once the queen sadly passed away, mourning visitors were leaving them outside the palace as tributes to her and her close relationship with the bear.

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