Explore Little Venice: A guide to scenic London canal walks
Date post added: 17th December 2024
Little Venice – like most things Italian, it sounds pretty romantic and dreamy doesn’t it? The reality’s perhaps a bit more Amsterdam than Venice, but it is a beautifully tranquil and special place to the northwest of Central London.
It was Lord Byron who made the first reference to Venice, ‘… there would be nothing to make the canal of Venice more poetical than that of Paddington, were it not for its artificial adjuncts.’ Or was it? Others attribute the ‘Little Venice’ name to Robert Browning who lived in the area, or to author Margery Allingham who wrote the 1930s’ novel Death of a Ghost. There’s also a theory that it was a spin-off from the ‘Little Italy’ community in Clerkenwell. You decide!
The canalside location of Little Venice is home to waterside cafes, pretty pubs, dozens of narrowboats and attractive houseboats, as well as charming houses too. But where is this hidden gem exactly and what can you do and see there? Read on to find our guide to the canalside beauty, Little Venice.
Where is Little Venice exactly?
You don’t need a passport to reach Little Venice. You can get to this lesser-known part of London on the tube, train, car or bus. It’s a mere 10 minutes from Paddington station, in between Paddington and Maida Vale. Warwick Avenue (on the Bakerloo line) and Edgware Road are the closest tube stations. Little Venice is where the Grand Union Canal meets the Regent’s Canal. The Little Venice section of the canal stretches from Warwick Avenue to Maida Vale.
The stunning waterside walk along the Southbank, beside the mighty River Thames, tends to get all the glory. But sauntering along the canal towpaths is a wonderful experience too. After all, Regent’s Canal is known as “the loveliest inland waterway in England.” You can take to the water with one of the canal boat trips or boat tours that allow you to appreciate the authentic surroundings from a different perspective.
What are the highlights of a Little Venice canal walk in London?
The canal runs from the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal to the Limehouse Basin on the opposite side of the city at Docklands. That’s where the canal joins the River Thames. The canal passes by diverse and interesting London locations including Camden Lock, St Pancras, King’s Cross and London Fields. Here we’ll focus on our top ten highlights along the canal near Little Venice.
1. Browning’s Pool: this area of water was named after the poet, Robert Browning, who lived nearby in Warwick Crescent in the 1860s. These days, you’re likely to see passenger boats and canal boats going by. You can actually catch a waterbus from here to Camden Market. But in the heyday of the canals as industrial waterways, you would have seen commercial cargo being transported rather than passengers.
2. Rembrandt Gardens: this small public park is a wonderful spot to stop for a picnic or coffee whilst enjoying views over the canal. It was named Warwick Gardens originally, but received the more romantic title of Rembrandt Gardens when the cities of Westminster and Amsterdam were twinned. There were even ceremonial tulips!
3. Puppet theatre barge: the UK’s only floating puppet theatre has been going since 1978. You’ll find it by Blomfield Road. Step on board this narrowboat and you’ll discover a magical, 50-seater theatre complete with a perfect stage for the string marionette dolls. It’s an enchanting experience for all ages.
4. Traditional pubs: Little Venice has a wealth of traditional pubs and canalside cafes. Enjoy a pint and some fish and chips at 19th-century pub, The Warwick Castle. Then The Waterway’s ideal for a drink on the outdoor terrace overlooking the Grand Union Canal.
Then there’s the Prince Alfred pub, near Lord’s Cricket Ground. Its Victorian interior has retained the original snob screens. The aptly named screens were put into pubs in Victorian times to separate the working class from the middle class.
5. Regents Park: as you walk along the Regent’s Canal towpath, you’ll pass through the wonderfully lush, green open space that is Regent’s Park. On the northwest edge, you’ll see Quinlan Terry’s Regent’s Park villas – six impressive detached villas by the canal. You can also catch a glimpse of some animals in London Zoo, especially the high-flying monkeys.
6. Canalside cafes: stop to refuel or simply take in the views at one of the local cafes. Waterside Cafe by Browning’s Pool is a firm favourite as it’s a floating cafe on a barge which also sells pre-loved books. Savouring an English breakfast tea and a good book is one of life’s great pleasures.
For a more Italian vibe, Café Laville is perched on a bridge overlooking the canal where Blomfield Road meets Aberdeen Place and the Edgware Road. It’s glass-fronted, so you can drink in superb coffee and lovely views in all weathers.
7. Clifton Nurseries: London’s oldest garden centre is a hidden oasis in the heart of urban Maida Vale. It’s been inspiring gardeners since 1851. For the less green-fingered amongst us, there’s a charming cafe surrounded by beautiful blooms. What’s not to love about that?
8. St. Mary’s Hospital: we’re not suggesting you take a trip to A&E. This Paddington hospital was the birthplace of several British VIPs. Firstly, penicillin. Nobel Prize-winning Scottish physician Alexander Fleming discovered the drug here and there’s a museum showcasing that history. St Mary’s Paddington is also the famous birthplace of Princes William and Harry, George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte.
9. Paddington Basin: this part of London’s had quite the revamp in recent years. You’ll still see old 19th-century industrial architecture, but there are now heaps of new places to eat, drink, visit, work and live.
10. Camden Lock: the double lock known as Camden Lock is officially Hampstead Road Lock. From here, head to Camden Market where you’ll find everything from tie-dye T-shirts and henna tattoos to street food and craft beer.
Not strictly canalside but worth the deviation, Primrose Hill is a delightful London village to visit. Clamber up the incline and you’ll be amazed by the sweeping views across the City of London and along into Central London and beyond.
Get to know Little Venice better with a guided walking tour
Whether you’re flying solo or exploring as a group, our walking tours are the best way to see and understand a place like Little Venice. Our Little Venice walk takes a circular route, beginning and ending at Warwick Avenue underground station. We also take a different route. Our Regents Canal walk starts in Little Venice and ends in Camden Town. Come and join us!
Pippa Jackson
Pippa is a word nerd and content aficionado with a background of working in TV on both sides of the globe. She loves to discover and share the diverse and wonderful stories of her much-loved London. When she’s not writing blogs and articles, you’ll find her walking beside the Thames or even paddleboarding on it (in the finest of conditions only!) or enjoying a coffee in the sunshine with a good book.
David Tucker
David – the Seigneur of this favoured realm – broods over words, breeds enthusiasms and is “unmanageable.”* He’s a balterer, literary historian, university lecturer, journalist, logophile and lifelong thanatophobe. For good measure, he’s the doyen of London guides.